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HK to take part in International Youth Exchange Programme
Two groups of local young people aged between 18 and 24 will take part in the International Youth Exchange Programme 1996 which will take place in Britain and Germany this month and in July.
Introducing at a press conference today (Monday) the young delegates who will represent Hong Kong, the Chairman of the Commission on Youth, Mr Eric Li, noted the aim of the International Youth Exchange Programme was to broaden the outlook of young people of Hong Kong and to enable them to exchange ideas and experiences with their counterparts of other countries.
"The Programme started in 1979 with exchanges between young people of Hong Kong and Britain. As in the past years, the Programme will include a three- week visit by a delegation comprising six young people to Britain, from June 29 to July 20 this year," he said.
"In addition, to provide more opportunities for our young people to gain more international exposure, the Programme has been extended to cover a visit by another delegation consisting of ten young people to Germany from July 13 to 31."
The itinerary in Britain will include visits to youth organisations, schools and universities, discussion on social issues and participation in recreational activities. It is hoped that the participants will acquire a better understanding of the British society through the tour which highlights education, housing and youth service in the country.
In Germany, individual home-stays with local families will be arranged to enable the participants to gain more insight into German culture and way of life. The tour will also focus on the political, economic and social aspects of the society. It will include a two-day trip to the Royal Highness' castle in Denmark and a former World War II concentration camp.
The 16 young delegates were chosen from over a hundred nominees from various youth organisations and government departments. Training has been provided to them so that they will introduce to their counterparts overseas different aspects of Chinese culture and Hong Kong society. They will have to prepare a report on their return to Hong Kong.