"She Inspires" Mentorship Programme Lights the Spark in Mentees' Life Planning

To promote the career development of women, Chief Executive John Lee included "She Inspires" Mentorship Programme in his 2024 Policy Address. The programme matches local female university students who aspire to pursue a career in the professional or business sectors with women leader mentors, and provides relevant training and activities to help them enhance their skills, build confidence and network to thrive in their future career and nurture the future strength that "hold up half the sky". 

On International Women's Day (March 8), prior to attending the 2026 International Women's Day Reception, Mr. John Lee and his wife met with several mentees from the "She Inspires" Mentorship Programme. Photo source: John Lee's FB image

In a social media post, Mr. Lee shared that on International Women's Day (March 8), prior to attending the 2026 International Women's Day Reception, he and his wife met with several mentees from the Programme. The students, hailing from different universities and studying various disciplines, included local students as well as those from Chinese Mainland and India. He noted that, following the positive results of the inaugural Programme, the 2025 Policy Address announced its continuation, with the second cohort set to expand by 50% to 120 mentees. The expanded programme will continue to provide related training and activities, extending its reach to benefit more female university students.

Mr. John Lee and his wife met with several mentees from the "She Inspires" Mentorship Programme. Photo source: John Lee's FB image

Mr. John Lee and his wife met with several mentees from the "She Inspires" Mentorship Programme. Photo source: John Lee's FB image

Mr. John Lee and his wife met with several mentees from the "She Inspires" Mentorship Programme. Photo source: John Lee's FB image

The mentee Rachel Cheng, a second-year student in the Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Applied Artificial Intelligence programme at the University of Hong Kong, aspires to develop products and start a company, using technology to assist those in need in the future. "For example, using VR technology to allow women to experience being a football player or an astronaut, thereby broadening their perceived possibilities and preventing society from limiting them," she shared.

Rachel noted that while she initially thought she needed to start a business during her student years to access government funds and resources, but her mentor encouraged her to connect network with more people, taking her to visit companies like Port Community System and Lenovo, etc., which broadened her horizons and deepened her understanding of the practical application of technology.

Rachel Cheng, Photo by Bastille Post

Another mentee, Charlotte Liu, a third-year student in the Bachelor of Social Sciences in Public Policy and Politics programme at City University of Hong Kong, hopes her attendance at the "She Inspires" Mentorship Programme can better prepare her for her future career planning. Her mentor, Ms. Margaret Fong, the former Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, has provided her with substantial career wisdom and life advice. As for Charlotte, what particularly impressed was her mentor's constant encouragement to maintain curiosity about the world and to actively learn: "Don't limit yourself to your profession or the familiar aspects of daily life; our worldview should be broader." She has found this guidance immensely beneficial.

Charlotte Liu (right), Photo by Bastille Post

Moon Wong, a second-year student in the Bachelor of Business Administration in Professional Accountancy programme at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, aims for a career in accounting in the future. Recognising the increasing maturity of artificial intelligence, she aspires to become an accounting professional with professional judgment and strategic thinking, capable of improving herself alongside technology and remaining indispensable.

Moon observed that accounting is often cited as a profession at risk of being replaced by AI. However, after in-depth discussions with her mentor, she discovered that "accounting is constantly evolving with the times, so we need to improve our capabilities of utilising AI to avoid being replaced." Her mentor also taught her that accounting extends beyond numbers to encompass communication. "Communication is something I'm interested in," she said, adding that her mentor also suggested she explore society more extensively in the coming years.

Moon Wong (middle), Photo by Bastille Post

Amanda Chen, a non-local student from Xi'an Province, has a deep love for Hong Kong culture. Currently, she is a third-year student in the Bachelor of Science (Honours) Scheme in Hotel and Tourism Management programme at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, who hopes to work in the hotel and convention industry in the future. Her mentor has provided her with many specific and practical suggestions for career planning, which she finds immensely helpful for her future development. She also expressed her enjoyment in learning and growing alongside other similarly aged, goal-oriented mentees.

Amanda Chen, Photo by Bastille Post

Yashica VIJAYAKUMAR, an Indian Hong Kong Permanent Resident, has been actively involved in various activities of the Programme. She aspires to dedicate herself to the legal profession in the future, advocating for the rights of vulnerable groups, including ethnic minorities, foreign workers, and women affected by domestic violence or cultural pressures, to promote equality and inclusion in society.

Yashica VIJAYAKUMAR, Photo by Bastille Post

She shared that her mentor is a role model for women, having successfully balanced a career and family. This has greatly inspired her to achieve a similar balance and success in both areas of her own life in the future.

The "She Inspires" Mentorship Programme matches local female university students who aspire to pursue a career in the professional or business sectors with women leader mentors, and provides relevant training and activities to help them enhance their skills, build confidence and network to thrive in their future career and nurture the future strength that "hold up half the sky". Photo by Bastille Post

Public rental housing residents imprisoned for falsely declaring no property ownership

A spokesman for the Housing Department (HD) said today (October 6) that two public rental housing (PRH) residents in two cases were convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for contravening the Housing Ordinance by falsely declaring in a statement that they did not own any property.

The PRH residents involved, living in Choi Hung Estate and Kwong Tin Estate respectively, declared in the 2025 Income and Assets Declaration Forms that they did not own any domestic property in Hong Kong. Upon thorough investigations by the HD, it was revealed that the two PRH tenants, in Case 1, each owned residential properties in Sai Kung, with one holding two properties and the other holding one, while one PRH resident in Case 2 owned a domestic property in Tseung Kwan O.

The Kwun Tong Magistrates Courts yesterday (October 5) sentenced the PRH resident holding two properties in Case 1 to an immediate two-week imprisonment, while the hearing for the other PRH resident in the same case was adjourned to November 30. The HD will also proceed to recover the subject PRH flat. For Case 2, the PRH resident was sentenced to a four-week imprisonment and granted bail pending appeal.

The HD reminded that, PRH residents and subsidised housing applicants must honestly declare their income, assets, and properties, and accurately complete their Income and Assets Declaration Forms. PRH residents must also read the content and completion guidelines of the Declaration Forms carefully and compute their income and assets in accordance with the methods specified for accurately providing the relevant information.

The HD will continue its dedicated efforts to adopt a multipronged approach to combat the abuse of PRH in a comprehensive manner.

Source: AI-found images