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Education

councils to hold activities relating to the theme. Other promotional initiatives included the annual Civic Education Exhibition and the production of civic education publications.

The Civic Education Resource Centre at the Youth Square comprises a 'Resource Corner' with reference materials on civic education and youth development, a 'Civic Square' and a 'Gallery' Equipped with audio/visual facilities, the Civic Square is used for training courses, seminars, sharing sessions and youth activities and film shows about civic education. The Gallery's videos and interactive games help visitors experience and explore different aspects of civic education. Guided tours are provided and periodic exhibitions are held to promote core civic values.

Commission on Youth

The commission's main tasks include advising the government on youth matters, initiating studies on youth, promoting youth development, enhancing communication between young people and the government, and providing young people with exchange opportunities on the Mainland and overseas, and internship opportunities on the Mainland.

To enhance communication, the commission invites senior government officials, representatives from advisory bodies or renowned speakers to attend 'Youth Exchange Sessions' so that they can communicate directly with young people and gather their views on relevant topics. The commission's 'Youth Summit, held every two years, provides a platform for principal officials to exchange views with young participants.

To promote youth development, in 2015 the commission approved sponsorship under the Large-scale Youth Programme Funding Scheme for 12 large-scale youth programmes run by qualified organisations in Hong Kong.

In 2015, the commission sponsored 253 exchange tours to the Mainland run by community organisations to enhance young people's awareness and understanding of China, strengthen their sense of national identity and foster exchanges with Mainland people. The commission also sponsored 84 projects run by community organisations providing young people with internship opportunities on the Mainland for better understanding of the Mainland employment market, work culture and development opportunities. Youth delegates visited Ireland, Japan, Poland, Russia and Singapore under the International Youth Exchange Programme to broaden their outlook and world perspective. The commission also hosted young people from Ireland, Japan, Singapore and Russia on reciprocal visits to Hong Kong.

In collaboration with 18 District Youth Programme Committees, the commission's Youth Programme Co-ordinating Committee provides a wide range of cultural, arts, sports and general development activities for children and young people aged between six and 29. Citywide youth development activities co-ordinated and organised by the co-ordinating committee include the Outstanding Youth Commendation Scheme and the Outstanding Youth Activity Commendation Scheme. The Home Affairs Department also co-ordinates youth development activities at the district level. In addition, about 4,400 activities were organised in the summer of 2015 with government funding and sponsorship from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

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