ENG-2014 — Page 178

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Education

their outlook and world perspective. The commission also hosted young people from Ireland, Japan and Singapore on reciprocal visits to Hong Kong.

In collaboration with 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. Territory-wide youth development activities co-ordinated and organised by the YPCC include the 'Outstanding Youth Commendation Scheme' and the 'Outstanding Youth Activity Commendation Scheme: The Home Affairs Department also co-ordinates youth development activities among young people of different age groups at district level. In addition, approximately 3,800 activities were organised in the summer of 2014 with sponsorship from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

In 2014, the commission released a report on 'Views on Filial Piety among Youth in Hong Kong, which both investigated Hong Kong young people's understanding of 'filial piety' and promoted the concept.

Children's Rights

The Children's Rights Forum (CRF) is a platform for children's organisations, children and the government to exchange views on matters that concern children. The CRF helps the Family Council to assess the impact of government policies on the family by relaying to the council children's views on government initiatives expressed at the forum. To enhance understanding of children's rights enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Children's Rights Education Funding Scheme has supported non-government bodies to implement around 245 projects since its establishment in 2006.

Promotion of Racial Equality and Harmony

The Committee on the Promotion of Racial Harmony

The Committee on the Promotion of Racial Harmony advises the government on the promotion of racial harmony and equality, including provision of support services for ethnic minorities, and on proposals for race-related public education and publicity. Secretariat support is provided by the Home Affairs Department's (HAD) Race Relations Unit.

Support Services for Ethnic Minorities

The HAD's new initiatives in 2014 to strengthen the support services for ethnic minorities to help them integrate into the community included establishing a new dedicated support service centre in Kwai Tsing; setting up units in all support service centres and sub-centres to provide dedicated programmes for ethnic minority youths; implementing ambassador schemes to provide outreach services for ethnic minority youths; and strengthening manpower support through recruitment of additional staff familiar with ethnic minority cultures and languages.

There are now six support service centres and two sub-centres for ethnic minorities, offering tailor-made classes, counselling and integration programmes. One centre also provides free language interpretation on the telephone to assist ethnic minorities in the use of public

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