Youth Volunteers Visit OCMFA, Explore Opportunities in UN Internship Programme for Broader International Engagement.

SHYA leads United Nations youth volunteer interns to visit OCMFA

The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, and the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Patrick Li, led the youth volunteer interns participating in the HYAB - United Nations Volunteer Internship Programme to visit the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (OCMFA) today (July 9), and met with Deputy Commissioner of the OCMFA Mr Li Yongsheng. The Chairman of the Agency for Volunteer Service (co-organiser of the Programme), Ms Melissa Pang, also joined the visit.

In the 2025 Policy Address, the Chief Executive announced the launch of the Young Talent Training Programme to provide more opportunities for young people to participate in the internships of international organisations and attend international conferences, thereby enabling them to broaden their international horizons and cultivate a holistic outlook. The Government launched the Programme in collaboration with the United Nations (UN) Volunteers and provides full funding support to local university students to undertake six-month volunteer placements in different UN agencies. It aims to help young people develop their personal capacities and gain a deeper understanding of the operations of international organisations, and also to provide an opportunity for them to contribute to the international community in the capacity of Chinese youth volunteers.

Miss Mak expressed her gratitude to the OCMFA for its support for youth development work in Hong Kong, especially the arrangements of today's visit, which would help young people understand the country's pivotal role in international affairs. She encouraged the interns this year to seize this volunteer internship opportunity to showcase the vitality, capability and potential of Hong Kong youth to the world, and also to tell good stories of the country and Hong Kong.

This year, the Programme offers a total of 20 internship placements in different UN agencies located in Kazakhstan, Laos, Nepal, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Uzbekistan. The youth volunteer interns will undertake volunteer placements in UN agencies, such as the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Children's Fund, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

SHYA leads United Nations youth volunteer interns to visit OCMFA Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SHYA leads United Nations youth volunteer interns to visit OCMFA Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SHYA leads United Nations youth volunteer interns to visit OCMFA Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SHYA leads United Nations youth volunteer interns to visit OCMFA Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Public can bring dogs into permitted food premises starting today

Customers are allowed to bring dogs into the first batch of more than 940 permitted food premises starting today (July 9). Members of the public can visit the dedicated webpage of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/licensing/dog_restaurants/index.html) to look up the list of permitted food premises. These food premises must display the "Food Premises Permitted for Dog Entry" signage designated by the FEHD (see annex), at a conspicuous place at the main entrance at all times for identification.

The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, visited a permitted food premises in the West Kowloon Cultural District this afternoon to observe the implementation of the new measure on the first day, and to exchange views with restaurant operators and customers. Mr Tse said, "The restaurant has made thorough preparations in terms of hygiene facilities and seating arrangements, and we can see customers bringing dogs were co-operative. Everyone was beaming, feeling that this is a remarkable breakthrough." He expects that permitted food premises can demonstrate professionalism and self-discipline to strictly abide by the laws and licensing conditions. As for customers bringing dogs, they are expected to properly control their dogs while enjoying meals and to respect other customers, so as to jointly maintain a comfortable and harmonious dining environment.

The Permanent Secretary for Environment and Ecology (Food), Ms Irene Young; the Director of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Mr Albert Yuen; and the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman of the Panel on Food Safety and Environmental Hygiene of the Legislative Council, Ms Chan Hoi-yan and Mr Yang Wing-kit, also joined the visit.

A spokesman for the FEHD said, "The new measure offers a quota of 1 000 restaurants in the first phase, and the vetting and approval process has been smooth. As some successful balloting applicants did not complete the procedures to amend their licences, the FEHD is allocating the remaining quotas to waitlisted applicants in the order determined by the earlier ballot results. Information on the newly added food premises will be progressively uploaded to the dedicated webpage after completion of the procedures."

To assist operators of food premises in adapting to the new measure as early as possible, the FEHD has deployed a dedicated team of 90 members to visit each of the permitted food premises, providing the persons-in-charge with detailed explanations on the statutory requirements, licensing conditions and other compliance arrangements. The coming month will serve as an adaptation period for the new measure, during which the dedicated team will step up visits to the permitted food premises to observe the implementation and assist the industry in complying with the regulations. The FEHD has previously released the Guidelines on Good Practices and Behaviour, and the Code of Practice, covering points to note for restaurant operators, customers bringing dogs, and those without dogs, providing references and guidance to all parties.

Public can bring dogs into permitted food premises starting today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Public can bring dogs into permitted food premises starting today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Public can bring dogs into permitted food premises starting today Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases