ENG-2000 — Page 220

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EDUCATION

school children and a 2001 calendar on good citizenship. A biennial opinion survey on civic education was also conducted to assess the community's perception of civic responsibilities and community participation.

During the year, the committee continued to implement the Community Participation Scheme to encourage community organisations to organise civic education activities at the district level.

Commission on Youth

The Commission on Youth was established in 1990. Its main objectives are to advise on matters pertaining to youth, initiate studies and research, promote co-operation and improvement in the provision of youth services and serve as a liaison point with other international youth organisations for youth exchange programmes.

In 2000, the commission completed a survey on youth leadership training programmes in Hong Kong. The survey took stock of the provision of youth leadership training and made recommendations to further improve these training programmes. The commission also began a study on the influence of information technology on young people, which would be completed in 2001.

During the year, the commission continued to implement youth development programmes that seek to realise the full potential of the young people. These included the International Youth Exchange Programme that aimed at broadening the horizon and international perspective of young people. In 2000, three groups comprising 73 youth delegates visited Singapore, Japan and Britain under the programme. During the year, the commission also received 28 young people from Japan and Britain on their return visits to Hong Kong.

In early 2000, the commission launched the Youth Development Funding Scheme to sponsor non-governmental organisations in organising youth development activities with particular emphasis on leadership training. It continued to operate two funding schemes to encourage more youth groups and community organisations to participate in community-based projects. The funding scheme for sponsoring study tours to the Mainland enables young people to cultivate a sense of belonging among themselves and enhances their understanding of the history and culture of China. The other project, the Youth Community Service Funding Scheme, encourages more young people to serve the community through voluntary work. In 2000, the commission sponsored 142 study tours to the Mainland and 64 projects for voluntary work.

The Charter for Youth enunciates principles and ideals in youth development. To encourage more youth organisations and individuals to subscribe to it, the commission has continued to promote the charter through a series of publicity programmes including a television announcement in the public interest and a home page on the Internet (http://www.info.gov.hk/hab/top_issue/charterc.htm).