SHYA Attends Barracks Visit for Hong Kong and Macao Youths in Zhanjiang

SHYA attends barracks visit for Hong Kong and Macao youths in Zhanjiang

The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, attended a barracks visit for youths from Hong Kong and Macao in Zhanjiang today (August 3).

The activity is led by the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, jointly organised by the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government and the Education and Youth Development Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region Government, and hosted by the Zhanjiang Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Bureau. Through national defence education, the activity aims to guide youths from Hong Kong and Macao to deepen their understanding of national affairs, enhance their awareness of national defence, and foster a strong sense of patriotism.

Speaking at the activity, Miss Mak said that the country has always placed high hopes on the youths of Hong Kong and Macao, anticipating them to accurately grasp global development trends and demonstrate their affection for the country through concrete actions. Today's event provided a valuable experience for young people from Hong Kong and Macao to visit the Navy Units and board the modern warship, serving as a profound lesson in national defense education.

Miss Mak emphasised that the HKSAR Government attaches great importance to inspiring Hong Kong's youths to foster and carry forward the spirit of patriotism, and actively guides them to better integrate into and serve the overall national development. She said that the HKSAR Government is drawing up Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan. Regarding youth development, in line with the 15th Five-Year Plan and building on the basis of the Youth Development Blueprint, the HKSAR Government will fully utilise Hong Kong's distinctive advantages of having strong support from the motherland and close connection with the world, and strive to nurture a new generation of young people with an affection for the country and Hong Kong and equipped with global perspectives, an aspiring mindset and positive thinking. Miss Mak encouraged the youths to share their observations and reflections from the barracks back in Hong Kong and Macao, and to contribute to the development of the country, Hong Kong and Macao.

About 200 young people from Hong Kong and Macao participated in the event. They boarded and toured the warship, gaining a direct appreciation of the formidable strength of the national navy.

The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, attended a barracks visit for youths from Hong Kong and Macao in Zhanjiang today (August 3). Photo shows Miss Mak (first left) interacting with Hong Kong youths participated in the activity. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, attended a barracks visit for youths from Hong Kong and Macao in Zhanjiang today (August 3). Photo shows Miss Mak (second right) with Hong Kong youths participated in the activity. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, attended a barracks visit for youths from Hong Kong and Macao in Zhanjiang today (August 3). Photo shows Miss Mak (second right) and the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of People's Government of Guangdong Province, Ms Chen Liwen (first right), touring the Zhanjiang Bay Laboratory. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, attended a barracks visit for youths from Hong Kong and Macao in Zhanjiang today (August 3). Photo shows Miss Mak delivering a speech at the activity. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Approval for fourth round of applications under Labour Importation Scheme for Transport Sector - Aviation Industry completed

The approval process for the fourth round of applications under the Labour Importation Scheme for the Transport Sector - Aviation Industry has been completed. The Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB) issued letters today (August 3) to all applicants on the results.

The application period for the fourth round of application under the Scheme was from July 2 to 15. A total of 33 companies eligible for quota applications (eligible companies) submitted applications within the period, involving 1 673 labour importation quotas covering nine job types under the Scheme. After assessment by the interdepartmental liaison group comprising representatives from the TLB, the Labour Department and the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK), the Permanent Secretary for Transport and Logistics approved a total of 1 366 quotas for all eligible companies concerned, including all 516 applications for contract renewal quotas. In vetting and allocating the quotas, the group has taken into consideration all relevant factors such as the business development needs of the applicants and the requirements of the Scheme (including the requirements of the manning ratio of local staff to imported labour and the conduct of local recruitment). The results with a breakdown by job type of the fourth round of applications are at the Annex.

Under the Scheme, approved eligible companies have to pay the AAHK $400 per month for each worker imported, while the AAHK will contribute a lump sum in an amount of the same magnitude as the total amount paid by applicants. As driven by the Government and co-ordinated by the AAHK, the relevant payments will continue to be used for subsidising the transportation costs of the local frontline staff responsible for airport operation.

Upon the conclusion of the fourth round of applications, all 6 300 quotas under the scheme have been approved. The TLB and the AAHK will continue to engage in regular meetings with the stakeholder consultative group to listen to the views of stakeholders on the Scheme. They will continue to enhance information dissemination through the consultative group in order to facilitate the smooth implementation and execution of the Scheme.

Premised on safeguarding the employment of local labour, the Scheme was introduced in July 2023 to allow the aviation industry to suitably import labour with a view to relieving the acute manpower shortage and supporting the continual development of Hong Kong's aviation industry.

Source: AI-found images