Youth Leaders Forum Reviews Achievements and Future Plans for Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Macao Collaboration.

Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum holds annual review

The annual review of the Security Bureau (SB) Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum was held today (September 19). Members from Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Macao reviewed their experiences and achievements over the course of the year, presented on various topics, and outlined the development of the Leaders Forum for the coming year with its new members.

Addressing the ceremony, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government attached great importance to youth development. The Chief Executive has announced the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) and the Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address last Wednesday. It was stated clearly in Chapter 19 of the Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan that diversified platforms would be developed for exchange and practical experience to broaden the horizons of young people. Building on the Youth Development Blueprint, they are provided with broader platforms and more opportunities to grow and thrive, and strive to nurture a new generation of young people with an affection for our country and Hong Kong, global perspective, ambition and a positive mindset. In the Policy Address, a number of measures were proposed to help young people explore new areas, including the introduction of a new thematic finance internship programme in the Mainland; the launch of thematic aerospace training activities in the Mainland; and an increase of thematic internship places relating to high-end scientific research at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Mr Cheuk said, "The Leaders Forum is an important platform for us to implement this grand vision. Over the past year, building on the strong foundation of close co-operation among Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Macao, the Leaders Forum has continued to innovate. During the year of 2025/2026, the Leaders Forum organised more than 30 activities covering national security, patriotic education, frontier technologies and multicultural themes. Our members also took part in national extravaganza such as the 15th National Games, demonstrating the vitality and sense of responsibility of the new generation. It is particularly encouraging that members have continued to go beyond the Greater Bay Area for a broader global stage this year. I encourage members to maintain your innovation and passion, engage in more exchanges and make contributions, develop your skills through serving the community and strive for the future."

Members from the three places shared their observations and reflections from the activities of the Leaders Forum throughout the past year and their summer internship experiences. Students from Shenzhen University also shared their training experience in Hong Kong. They then delivered topical presentations on various issues related to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, including higher education collaboration, a low-carbon living blueprint, cultural and tourism industry developments, international image building, and a youth entrepreneurship ecosystem. The members received feedback from the guests.

The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, expressed his satisfaction at the marked progress shown by members over the past year. He said that 51 members undertook summer internships at 26 renowned enterprises and organisations across cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Shenzhen, Macao and Hong Kong. Nine students from Shenzhen University also came to Hong Kong for training at various companies to gain hands-on experience. Since the establishment of the Leaders Forum four years ago, he witnessed that more than 60 per cent of its graduates have joined the Government, taking up positions such as administrative officer and inspectorate officers of disciplinary forces; others have pursued careers in legal, medical care, engineering, finance and other sectors.

Mr Tang said the National 15th Five-Year Plan this year has a dedicated section for youth development, while the HKSAR Government also for the first time formulated its own Five-Year Plan, through which the city could actively dovetail with national strategies and better integrate into and serve the overall development of the country. He said that future development opportunities for young people are unlimited and encouraged members of the Leaders Forum to get prepared.

The SB established the Leaders Forum in October 2022 to deepen participation in youth work. In the following year, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Shenzhen University, and its students were invited to participate in the activities of the Leaders Forum. Later, the Leaders Forum expanded its network by including youth groups of public security forces of Macao, further promoting youth development and cultural exchanges among Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Macao.

Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum holds annual review Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum holds annual review Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum holds annual review Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum holds annual review Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum holds annual review Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DH reminds public to take precautions against heat-related illnesses during very hot weather

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (September 19) reminded members of the public to take appropriate precautions against heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke, during very hot weather.

In a high-temperature environment, excessive sweating and difficulty in heat dissipation can cause stress to the body. Members of the public should take the following precautions:

• Hydrate in a timely manner to prevent dehydration;
• Wear light-coloured, loose-fitting and breathable clothing to minimise heat absorption and facilitate perspiration and heat dissipation;
• Keep indoor areas well ventilated and maintain appropriate temperature and humidity, e.g. by opening windows or using a fan or air-conditioning;
• Avoid strenuous exercise and prolonged activities such as hiking or trekking;
• Arrange outdoor activities in the morning or the late afternoon, if possible, and bring enough water; and
• Avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcoholic beverages, which may speed up water loss through the urinary system.

In addition, infants and children, the elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses such as heart disease or high blood pressure, overweight people and outdoor/manual workers are more susceptible to heat stroke. These groups should pay special attention to the following:

• Infants and young children: Avoid going outside when the temperature is high. If they must go outside, adults should ensure they stay in places with moderate temperatures and good ventilation or air-conditioning. Infants and young children should never be left unattended in a confined space such as a vehicle;
• The elderly, pregnant women, individuals with chronic illnesses and overweight people: Pay close attention to health conditions and seek help as soon as possible if experiencing any abnormalities in health indicators such as blood pressure, heart rate, etc or if there are fluctuations in health conditions. Avoid going out when the temperature is high. Make sure there is good ventilation, or turn on a fan or air-conditioner to keep an appropriate temperature indoors. High temperatures can also worsen the condition of people with chronic illnesses (such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases). Therefore, they should have an ample supply of their usual medication and keep in contact with family members, neighbours and the community. People should seek immediate help if they feel unwell.
• Outdoor/manual workers: Reschedule work to cooler hours as far as feasible. If working in a hot environment is unavoidable, provide shade where practicable and use ventilation and heat dissipation equipment. Once work has begun, gradually adjust the pace of work and take breaks in the shade to regain strength.

The DH reminded the public that heat stroke is one of the most common health risks in hot weather. Over the past five years, there have been over 200 hospital admissions due to heat stroke each year in Hong Kong, with two to five fatal cases occurring mainly during the summer months from May to September. Vulnerable groups are more susceptible to heat stroke. Symptoms include dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion. In severe cases, patients may suffer from convulsions or become unconscious, which can be life-threatening if they are not cooled down and resuscitated in a timely manner.

Members of the public are also advised to pay attention to the latest weather, as well as the real-time and forecasted ultraviolet (UV) index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV index is high (6 or above), the public should note the following:

• Avoid direct sunlight exposure to the skin and the eyes;
• Apply broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen liberally, with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 or higher, when participating in outdoor activities. Reapply every two hours if staying outdoors for long periods, or after swimming, sweating or towelling off;
• While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen before insect repellent;
• Seek shade;
• Wear UV-blocking sunglasses;
• Wear loose-fitting clothing with long-sleeves; and
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat or use an umbrella.

If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

For more health information, the public may visit theCHP's heat strokepage andUV radiation page; the HKO's Dial-a-Weather (1878 200),latestweather report and forecast,UV Indexand weather information forhiking and mountaineering; andpress releasesof the Labour Departmenton precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Heat Stress at Work Warning is in force.

Source: AI-found images