2026 Youthfest@HK Programme Launched with Diverse Activities to Empower Young People's Healthy Growth

2026 youthfest@HK programme officially kicks off

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (July 28) officiated at the 2026 youthfest@HK (festival) Kick-off Ceremony to unveil a series of exciting and diversified youth activities.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government released the Youth Development Blueprint, clearly outlining the policy goals for the healthy growth and diversified development of young people. Apart from implementing over 160 specific actions set out in the Blueprint, approximately 130 additional measures were introduced in view of the latest situation of society and the needs of young people. This aims to ensure that the Blueprint is progressing with the times.

The themes of the festival are "Nurture Positive Thinking", "Promote Innovation" and "Inspire Creativity". Mr Chan said that the numbers of events and participants under the previous three editions of the Youth Festival increased continuously. In the 2025 youthfest@hk, more than 200 events were organised and attracted over 250 000 participants. Special appreciation goes to the Principal Funder, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, for its support. Mr Chan encouraged young people to participate in this year's various festival activities to enrich their knowledge, broaden their horizons and make friends. He also thanked all sectors of the community for their strong support of youth work.

Also officiating at the Kick-off Ceremony were the Acting Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung; the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Patrick Li; the Vice-Chairman of the Youth Development Commission, Mr Kenneth Leung; the Convenor of the Action Group on Youth Festival, Youth Development Commission, Mr Victor Pang; and the Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Lester Huang. Representatives from various festival participating organisations also attended the event.

Organisations may submit applications for partner events of youthfest@HK for inclusion of their events in the event calendar and on the official webpage. For the latest updates of the events under the festival programme, please visit the thematic webpage (www.youthfest.hk).

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended the 2026 youthfest@HK Kick-off Ceremony today (July 28). Photo shows Mr Chan (second left) visiting a booth at the event. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended the 2026 youthfest@HK Kick-off Ceremony today (July 28). Photo shows Mr Chan (first row, centre); the Acting Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung (first row, seventh left); the Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Lester Huang (first row, seventh right), and other guests with youths at the ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended the 2026 youthfest@HK Kick-off Ceremony today (July 28). Photo shows Mr Chan (centre); the Acting Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung (seventh left); the Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Lester Huang (seventh right), and other guests at the ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, speaks at the 2026 youthfest@HK Kick-off Ceremony today (July 28). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Opening ceremony of first course of Mainland Training Programme for Captains of Hong Kong District Services and Community Care Teams

The opening ceremony of the first course of the Mainland Training Programme for Captains of the Hong Kong District Services and Community Care Teams (Care Teams) was held today (July 28) at the National Academy of Governance in Beijing.

At the opening ceremony, the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, said that Care Teams were an important part of the Government's efforts to enhance district governance. Captains of Care Teams lead team members and volunteers in supporting the Government's district work. Together with the District Councils and the three District Committees, they form the "troika" of enhanced district governance and shoulder the important responsibility of enhancing district governance. The country attaches great importance to grassroots work, and Care Teams are an integral part of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)'s grassroots works. Their contributions are heart warming and meaningful, and are well recognised and valued by the community.

Miss Mak said, "To further strengthen Care Team captains' understanding of the country's latest development and grassroots governance on the Mainland, the Government is arranging for captains of Care Teams from various districts to receive training and conduct site visits on the Mainland by batches. This will enable them to gain a deeper understanding of national development and the Mainland's experience in grassroots governance so that they can apply what they have learned in their future district work and better serve the community."

Miss Mak added, "This year marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The HKSAR Government will proactively align with the national development blueprint and complete the formulation of Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan. I hope Care Team captains will seize this valuable learning opportunity to understand the content of the National 15th Five-Year Plan and learn from Beijing's experience in grassroots governance. They should turn what they have learned into practical outcomes in strengthening district governance, continuously optimising district work, and injecting more caring force into the community."

The programme will last for four days. Participants include captains of Care Teams from all 18 districts of Hong Kong. The training content covers General Secretary Xi Jinping's important expositions on grassroots governance, and proactive alignment with the overall development of the National 15th Five-Year Plan. Through on-site teaching and visits to sites such as the Museum of the War of Chinese People's Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, participants will gain multifaceted and in-depth understanding of the country's experience and practices in grassroots governance.

After the opening ceremony, Miss Mak called on the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council and met with Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council Ms Zhang Dongmei.

Opening ceremony of first course of Mainland Training Programme for Captains of Hong Kong District Services and Community Care Teams Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases