Immigration Department Youth Leaders Corps Explores Belt and Road Through Summer Exchange Tours

Immigration Department Youth Leaders Corps' Belt and Road summer exchange tours conclude

To deepen young people's understanding of national strategies and the international landscape, the Immigration Department Youth Leaders Corps (IDYL) organised a series of summer exchange tours under the theme of "IDYL Belt and Road Exploration Tours", including the Guangxi Tour to the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and the Singapore and Malaysia Tour to Singapore and Malaysia, engaging a total of 60 IDYL members as scheduled. Through a diverse range of activities, the tours aimed to provide a comprehensive introduction to the Belt and Road Initiative (B&RI) as well as the culture and development of the relevant countries or regions, enabling young people to tell good stories of Hong Kong from their perspectives.

Led by the Deputy Director of Immigration (Enforcement, Systems and Management), Mr Choi Chi-yuen, and Deputy Commissioner of the IDYL Advisory Committee Mr Chu Man-yin, members of the Guangxi Tour visited cities such as Nanning, Fangchenggang and Chongzuo between July 20 and 26 to conduct on-site studies of the country's efforts to drive forward the New Western Land-Sea Corridor, which was at the forefront of its collaboration with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. They also went to visit the China-Vietnam border, namely the Dongzhong, Dongxing and Youyiguan control points, to gain an in-depth understanding of immigration operations and trade developments along the China-Vietnam border, thereby better understanding the country's strategic layout in regional connectivity.

In addition, tour members visited the Guangxi Silver Wing Power Technology Company Limited to learn about the country's development of high-tech industries, and conducted exchanges with local young people at the Nanning Vocational and Technical University. They experienced Zhuang culture and jointly explored the way of passing on traditions while pioneering the future.

The six-day, five-night Singapore and Malaysia Tour was also held from August 5 to 10. Travelling to various cities in Singapore and Malaysia, tour members visited Singapore's Changi Airport and Tuas Checkpoint to obtain insights into the air and land immigration control facilities and policies of the Singapore Immigration & Checkpoints Authority, and went to local enterprises to experience firsthand the economic opportunities brought by the B&RI.

During the journey, tour members also paid a visit to the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Malaysia to understand overseas consular protection work and the country's pursuit of promoting the B&RI. They also went to the Xiamen University Malaysia to find out how the Chinese Mainland's higher education integrates into the B&RI, and exchanged views with local young people and overseas Chinese. The itinerary also included visits to landmarks such as the National Museum of Singapore, the Chan She Shu Yuen Clan Ancestral Hall and the Petronas Twin Towers, allowing tour members to immerse themselves in the local culture.

Both exchange tours under this year's IDYL Belt and Road Exploration Tours were partially funded by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Youth Development Commission. The IDYL will continue to organise exchange programmes of various themes to deepen young people's understanding of national affairs, facilitate their integration into the overall national development, and broaden their international horizons. Young people will be encouraged to capitalise on Hong Kong's unique advantage of having strong support from the motherland while being closely connected to the world, and proactively tell the world good stories of China and Hong Kong with their experiences and insights gained during the journeys.

Members of the IDYL Belt and Road Exploration Tours: Singapore and Malaysia Tour visit the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Malaysia on August 10 to listen to a sharing on overseas consular protection work by the country's diplomats. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Members of the IDYL Belt and Road Exploration Tours: Singapore and Malaysia Tour visit the Chan She Shu Yuen Clan Ancestral Hall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on August 9 to learn about the history of local overseas Chinese. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Members of the IDYL Belt and Road Exploration Tours: Singapore and Malaysia Tour visit and hold exchanges at Xiamen University Malaysia to learn about local students' campus life, share Hong Kong's unique culture with local young people, and tell good stories of Hong Kong. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Members of the IDYL Belt and Road Exploration Tours: Singapore and Malaysia Tour put on traditional Nyonya attires and taste handmade Nyonya pastries in Malacca, Malaysia, on August 7. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Commandant of the Immigration Service Institute of Training and Development, Ms Lam Huen-si (second row, sixth right), and Assistant Commissioner of the Immigration Department Youth Leaders Corps Advisory Committee Mr Fong Chun-kit (second row, fifth left) lead members of the IDYL Belt and Road Exploration Tours: Singapore and Malaysia Tour to Laifa's durian farm and frozen durian processing factory on August 6 to learn about how the Belt and Road Initiative promotes co-operation between Malaysian and China's companies to expand the sales market. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Members of the IDYL Belt and Road Exploration Tours: Singapore and Malaysia Tour visit the filming and post-production facilities of Iskandar Malaysia Studios on August 6 to learn about how its film and television production gains more opportunities through the Belt and Road Initiative. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Members of the IDYL Belt and Road Exploration Tours: Singapore and Malaysia Tour visit Tuas Checkpoint in Singapore on August 6 to obtain insights into how the land immigration control facilities and policies of the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority facilitate connectivity among the Belt and Road countries and in the international community. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Members of the IDYL Belt and Road Exploration Tours: Guangxi Tour visit the Detian Transnational Waterfall on July 25 to enjoy the vistas of natural wonders along the China-Vietnam border. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Members of the IDYL Belt and Road Exploration Tours: Guangxi Tour visit the Dongzhong control point on July 22 to gain an in-depth understanding of immigration control and trade development along the China-Vietnam border. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Members of the IDYL Belt and Road Exploration Tours: Guangxi Tour visit the Guangxi Silver Wing Power Technology Company Limited on July 21 to learn about the country's development of high-tech industries. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Members of the IDYL Belt and Road Exploration Tours: Guangxi Tour conduct exchanges with local young people and experience the traditional Zhuang bamboo dance at Nanning Vocational and Technical University on July 21. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Deputy Director of Immigration (Enforcement, Systems and Management), Mr Choi Chi-yuen (front row, ninth left), and Deputy Commissioner of the Immigration Department Youth Leaders Corps Advisory Committee Mr Chu Man-yin (front row, eighth left) lead members of the IDYL Belt and Road Exploration Tours: Guangxi Tour to Nanning Vocational and Technical University for exchanges on July 21. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Organ Donation Day 2026 promotional event held today to sow seeds of selfless love among younger generation

The Health Bureau, the Department of Health (DH) and Radio Television Hong Kong jointly held a promotional event for Organ Donation Day 2026 today (November 14). Through sharing by organ recipients, performances and storytelling, the event aimed to help the younger generation understand from an early age the significance of organ donation in sustaining lives, and to instil positive values of caring for others and cherishing life. Members of the public were also encouraged to embrace the spirit of selfless giving, support organ donation, register their wish to donate organs and communicate their wish to their families, bringing hope of a new lease of life to patients urgently awaiting organ transplants.

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, officiated at the event. He said, "For patients awaiting an organ transplantation, transplantation is their hope to live on. Every citizen who is willing to donate organs kindles one more spark of hope for them, enabling them to be freed from suffering sooner. To this end, I encourage members of the public who have not yet registered with the Centralised Organ Donation Register (CODR) system to sign up as soon as possible. After registering, please remember to inform your families of your donation wishes and encourage your family members, friends and colleagues to support organ donation. I hope everyone can become an organ donation ambassador, spreading the goodwill of care and mutual help to those around us, so that more people will understand the meaning of organ donation and join the ranks of those who support it."

Other officiating guests included the Under Secretary for Health, Dr Cecilia Fan; the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; the Head of the Health Promotion Branch of the DH, Dr Kellie So; Assistant Director of Broadcasting Mr Jonathan Yip; and the Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, Dr Libby Lee. Representatives of various organisations actively promoting organ donation, including the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, the Hong Kong Kidney Foundation, the Hong Kong Medical Association, the Hong Kong Organ Transplant Foundation, the Hong Kong Society of Nephrology, the Hong Kong Society of Transplantation and the Hong Kong, China Transplant Sports Association, also attended to show their support for Organ Donation Day.

At the event, the KIDS' Dream Choir sang to convey how organ transplants can transform recipients' lives and help them regain their health, while paying tribute to organ donors. Two young organ recipients shared their experiences of life after transplantation and how they honoured their donors' selfless generosity by embracing life with a positive and optimistic attitude. In addition, the Organ Donation Day 2026 ambassador, Aimee Chan, shared a fairy tale with students and parents, sowing the seeds of selfless love and helping positive values take root in their hearts.

The Government has been committed to working with community partners to promote organ donation and enhance public awareness of and support for it. Since its launch in 2016, the Organ Donation Promotion Charter has attracted the participation of more than 600 companies, organisations and schools. In 2023, the DH also enhanced the CODR system to make it easier for members of the public to register or check their registration status through the "iAM Smart" mobile application, while improving the efficiency of identity verification.

The DH continues to adopt a multipronged approach to publicity and promotion to enhance public understanding of organ donation and encourage people to register their wish to donate organs. This year, the DH has set up promotional booths on more than 2 000 occasions at locations across all 18 districts, including government or statutory body premises, exhibitions, educational institutions, hospitals and District Health Centres. It has also organised more than 20 health talks and train-the-trainer workshops. The number of registrations in the CODR has also risen, reaching a record high of more than 420 000.

Nevertheless, more than 2 000 patients in Hong Kong are still waiting for suitable organs for transplantation. The DH has launched a new round of its organ donation promotion campaign. From November 12 to January 20 next year, the organ donation promotion vehicle will visit various locations across the territory, enabling members of the public to register their wish to donate organs on the spot. Details of the vehicle's parking locations are available on the organ donation thematic webpage (www.organdonation.gov.hk/en/promotional_activities.html).

The DH appeals to members of the public to keep in mind the "3Ss" motto of organ donation, namely to register their wish in the CODR (Sign up), inform their family members (Speak out), and advocate organ donation among relatives and friends (Spread out). Members of the public may also register on the CODR website (www.codr.gov.hk), or submit registration forms by post or fax to the CODR Office. Looking ahead, the DH will continue to work with relevant stakeholders to regularly review, co-ordinate and take forward the implementation of organ donation publicity and education initiatives.

For more information on organ donation, please visit the thematic website (www.organdonation.gov.hk), the "Organ Donation in Hong Kong" Facebook page (www.facebook.com/organdonationhk) or Instagram page (www.instagram.com/organdonationhk).

Organ Donation Day 2026 promotional event held today to sow seeds of selfless love among younger generation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Organ Donation Day 2026 promotional event held today to sow seeds of selfless love among younger generation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Organ Donation Day 2026 promotional event held today to sow seeds of selfless love among younger generation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Organ Donation Day 2026 promotional event held today to sow seeds of selfless love among younger generation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Organ Donation Day 2026 promotional event held today to sow seeds of selfless love among younger generation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Organ Donation Day 2026 promotional event held today to sow seeds of selfless love among younger generation Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases