ENG-2012 — Page 177

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Education

officials, who heard presentations and exchanged views with participants on youth development policies and other topics of concern, and answered questions from participants and the public through an online platform. The summit's discussion topics were determined by online votes, and the summit was broadcast live on the internet. Young people led the summit's discussions and proceedings to maximize youth participation. To maintain communication between young people and the Government, the commission will continue to invite senior Government officials to attend 'Youth Exchange Sessions' from time to time, and to communicate directly with young people and to gather their views on relevant policy issues.

To promote youth development, in 2012 the commission launched the Large-scale Youth Programme Funding Scheme and approved sponsorship to 12 programmes run by qualified organisations to organise large-scale youth programmes in Hong Kong.

In 2012, the commission sponsored 142 study tours to the Mainland under a scheme to enhance young people's awareness and understanding of their home country, foster exchanges with Mainland people and strengthen their sense of national identity. During the year, 65 youth delegates visited the UK, Ireland, Japan and Singapore under the International Youth Exchange Programme, designed to broaden young people's outlook and world perspective, and the commission played host to 50 young people from these countries who made reciprocal visits to Hong Kong.

In collaboration with the 18 District Youth Programme committees, the commission's Youth Programme Co-ordinating Committee (YPCC) provides a wide range of cultural, arts, sports and general development activities for children and young people aged between six and 29. The YPCC co-ordinates and organises territory-wide youth development activities, such as the '18 Districts Cheering Team Competition' and the 'Outstanding Youth and Outstanding Youth Activity Commendation Scheme Award Presentation Ceremony! Meanwhile, to tie in with the commission's core values on youth development, the Home Affairs Department also co- ordinates youth development activities among young people of different age groups at district level. In addition, a total of 4,235 activities were organised in the summer of 2012 with the support of sponsorship from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

Children's Rights

The Government supports various initiatives to strengthen awareness of children's rights. enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, including setting up the Children's Rights Forum for exchanging views on children's rights with children and advocates of children's rights, and establishing the Children's Rights Education Funding Scheme to provide financial assistance to non-governmental organisations to promote children's rights.

Promotion of Racial Equality and Harmony

The Committee on the Promotion of Racial Harmony

The Committee on the Promotion of Racial Harmony was established in 2002 to advise the Government on the promotion of racial harmony and equality, including provision of support

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