2014 Policy Address Support the Needy Let Youth Flourish Unleash Hong Kong's Potential
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Support for Youth

Initiatives in the 2014 Policy Address - Support for Youth
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Whole-person Development
Education
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Employment
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“The Government fosters a culture of multi-faceted excellence and helps nurture young people through education, employment and whole-person development. We provide them with diversified learning, training and development opportunities that match their abilities, aspirations and education levels.”
 

 

 
Education  
   
Education
 

Education lays the foundation in nurturing the younger generations.

  • Increase access to higher education in five ways –
    1. Progressively increase from 2015/16 the annual senior-year undergraduate intake places in University Grants Committee-funded institutions by 1 000 in total (so that by 2018/19, 5 000 meritorious sub-degree graduates may articulate to subsidised degree programmes per annum (p.a.)).
    2. Set up a $100 million scholarship to encourage tertiary institutions to admit about 20 local students p.a. who excel in sports, arts and community service, commencing 2015/16.
    3. Explore subsidising up to 1 000 students per cohort to pursue selected self-financing undergraduate programmes to meet local manpower needs.
    4. Introduce a subsidy scheme so that needy students pursuing studies under the Scheme for the Admission of Hong Kong Students to Mainland Higher Education Institutions may receive a means-tested grant of up to $15,000 p.a. The scheme has no quota.
    5. Introduce a new scholarship scheme for up to 100 outstanding students per cohort to study in renowned non-local universities to nurture a pool of top talent to further Hong Kong’s development. Besides a scholarship (of up to $250,000 p.a.), needy students will receive a means-tested bursary (of up to $200,000 p.a.).
    Items 3 to 5 above will benefit three cohorts, and then be reviewed.
  • Ensure students will not be deprived of full post-secondary student life due to a lack of means –
    1. Support about 9 800 needy students p.a. to join exchange programmes outside Hong Kong selected on a merit basis and arranged by institutions.
    2. For needy students, invite the Community Care Fund (CCF) to consider providing hostel subsidy for undergraduates and increasing the academic expenses grant for those pursuing eligible self-financing post-secondary programmes.
  • Formalise the arrangement for student loan borrowers to start repayment one year after completing studies (to benefit about 23 000 persons p.a.).
  • Regularise CCF learning support programmes to support 270 000 students –
    1. Provide free school lunches for full-grant primary students under the student financial assistance schemes.
    2. Increase the flat-rate grant by about 100% for each eligible primary/secondary student under the School Textbook Assistance Scheme.
    3. Establish a tuition fee reimbursement mechanism and provide a flat-rate academic expenses grant for needy students pursuing eligible below-sub-degree programmes.
  • Enhance self-learning through IT and launch the 4th Strategy on IT in Education, including the phased provision of Wi-Fi for all public sector schools.
  • Launch various measures to enhance support for students with special educational needs, e.g. increase the Learning Support Grant by 30%.
  
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Employment  
   
Employment
 

Suitable employment enables young people to realise their potential and aspirations, which in turn would contribute towards economic development and social stability. Vocational and continuing education are important to enable a smooth transition from study to work.

  • Set up a Task Force on Vocational Education to map out a strategy to promote vocational education in the community, and invite the Vocational Training Council (VTC) to draw up a strategic development plan to enhance the image and quality of vocational education.
  • In the short run, the Government will implement measures to help young people with life planning and strengthen vocational education in four ways –
    1. Allocate additional resources to schools and non-governmental organisations to enhance life planning and career guidance for senior secondary students. Encourage greater mobilisation of the business sector and community resources in the Business-School Partnership Programme.
    2. Launch a pilot scheme in VTC to integrate vocational education and employment support for industries with keen demand for labour. Trainees will receive a grant/allowance. Participating industries will undertake to offer employment after training and provide clear career progression pathways. Will benefit 2 000 trainees.
    3. Provide recurrent funding to VTC to provide industrial attachment for all higher diploma and some diploma students. Over 9 000 students will benefit p.a.
    4. Establish a $1 billion fund as long-term support for the development of the Qualifications Framework for enhancing the quality of the workforce.
  
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Whole-person Development  
   
Whole-person Development
 

We will nurture the holistic development of young people, help them realise their potential and develop a life-long learning culture.

  • Provide greater flexibility for schools to implement the School-based After-school Learning and Support Programmes. Funding will be provided to encourage schools to make better use of the School-based Grant to assist more needy primary/secondary students.
  • Encourage community participation –
    1. Set aside $200 million to provide matching grant through the Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged to encourage cross-sectoral collaboration in implementing more after-school learning and support initiatives for primary/secondary students from grassroots families.
    2. Set aside $300 million for the Child Development Fund to help more children from needy families, through, among others, establishing mentorship relationships between volunteers and these children.
  • Double the recurrent subvention for uniformed groups, such as the Scout Association, the Hong Kong Red Cross and the Hong Kong Road Safety Patrol, and increase the funding for the Assistance Scheme for Needy Student Members.
  • Expand the Cadet Corps of Auxiliary Medical Service from 1 000 to 3 000 cadets in five years.
  • Plan and provide a variety of physical, discipline and team building training for youth through enhancement of activities of the Junior Police Call.
  • Allocate additional resources to strengthen networking and communication with youth at the district level.
  • Continue to implement the Youth Hostel Scheme and launch two more projects in Mong Kok and Jordan.
  • Broaden the horizon of young people –
    1. Actively explore expansion of the International Youth Exchange Programme.
    2. In collaboration with the Commission on Youth, sponsor Mainland exchange and internship programmes arranged by community organisations (around 14 000 persons to take part p.a.).
    3. Explore Working Holiday Scheme arrangements with more countries to help more youngsters enrich their global exposure.
  • Inject $200 million into the Hong Kong Paralympians Fund to strengthen the support for athletes (including young athletes) with disabilities.

The Government has set aside resources for the above measures. Our young people are the cornerstone for the future development of society. We would do our best to facilitate our younger generation to pursue and fulfil their goals in education and development.

  
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