Chief Secretary for Administration Highlights Youth Development at Hong Kong Summit: Embracing Innovation and Global Opportunities

Speech by CS at Youth Development Summit Hong Kong

Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Youth Development Summit Hong Kong today (November 7):

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. Welcome to Hong Kong and to the third edition of the Youth Development Summit.

I'm delighted to speak to you this morning - young leaders and officials from Hong Kong, the Chinese Mainland and 35 countries and regions. Your contributions today are essential to the Summit's success.

This year's Summit theme, "Pioneering New Horizons, Venturing into the Future," perfectly captures the forward-thinking mindset essential to the next generation - to you and your promising future.

"To pioneer" means having the courage to break new ground, to embrace emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and cultural innovation. And "to venture" means stepping boldly beyond comfort zones, turning uncertainty into opportunity and building connections across borders.

That's precisely why we are here today - to provide the setting, resources and global network you need to take that big step with confidence.

I'm pleased to say that Hong Kong has excelled in global rankings over the past few years. We have consistently ranked as the world's freest economy and are now second in the world for competitiveness.

We are also the world's third-ranked international financial centre, behind only New York and London, and have risen to fourth, globally, in talent competitiveness.

These international standings have put a bright spotlight on Hong Kong's development as an economy and a community, while emphasising the world's confidence in us. They also underline Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability under "One Country, Two Systems."

In September, the Chief Executive announced Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan to align with national development strategies and expand our global competitiveness and influence.

The Five-Year Plan is our strategic blueprint for the city's economic and social development over the next five years.

Like the Five-Year Plan, this year's Policy Address puts a priority on youth development.

Initiatives include the establishment of the International Young Talent Exchange Base and the strengthening of our co-operation with international organisations. Both are designed to help the youth of Hong Kong go global.

We are also expanding youth internship and training activities. They target such key sectors and areas as finance, aerospace technology, high-end scientific research, AI and start-ups.

I'm confident these and other measures will, ultimately, help Hong Kong youth serve the needs of our economy, our community and our country. That includes participating in the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, as well as the Belt and Road Initiative.

Then there's our Youth Development Blueprint. Since its establishment, four years ago, the Blueprint has implemented nearly 300 initiatives. I'm pleased to say these include the annual Youth Development Summit.

We will continue to deepen patriotic education for young people, while helping them broaden their international horizons. The goal is to ensure that our youth are raised with an affection for the country and Hong Kong, and equipped with a global perspective, an aspiring mindset and positive thinking.

This Summit showcases our commitment to you - to welcoming a world of young talent and visitors to Hong Kong.

That includes some 20 prominent speakers, from government officials and young entrepreneurs to business professionals and creative talent.

In today's sessions, they will share their invaluable insights on applying diversified development to broaden your career and life horizons.

Ladies and gentlemen, your future begins right here, right now.

I know you will enjoy today's Youth Development Summit. And I wish you all an unforgettable stay in Hong Kong, Asia's world city. Your world city.

Thank you.

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, attended the Youth Development Summit · Hong Kong today (November 7). Photo shows Mr Chan (front row, centre); Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Mr Sun Shangwu (front row, eleventh left); Deputy Commissioner of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR, Mr Li Yongsheng (front row, ninth left); the President of the Legislative Council, Dr Starry Lee (front row, third left); the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak (front row, first left), and other guests at the summit. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, speaks at the Youth Development Summit · Hong Kong today (November 7). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

$10 meals fight social isolation

Launched as a pilot in March at Shek Pai Wan Estate in the Southern District, the Community Dining Hall initiative has served over 4 000 meals and reached nearly 400 hidden or high-risk individuals. The Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) hopes the scheme will help identify the needs of caregivers, elderly people living alone and other hidden groups, enabling timely support to be provided.

News.gov.hk explored the initiative's goals, progress and user feedback through interviews with a representative of the LWB and the scheme operator - the Aberdeen Kai-fong Welfare Association.

The story is available at www.news.gov.hk/eng/feature from today (November 8) in text and video format.

Photo source: news.gov.hk