ENG-2017 — Page 193

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Education

provide leasing options and support to start-ups, young entrepreneurs and artists at concessionary rents no higher than half of the market rental.

Thematic Youth Internship Programmes on Mainland

The HKSAR anniversary celebrations included two pioneer thematic internship programmes organised by the bureau at Palace Museum, Beijing, and Wolong National Nature Reserve, Sichuan Province, for 60 Hong Kong and Guangdong youths between July and August. The six- week programmes aimed to enhance the participants' knowledge of cultural heritage and nature conservation respectively, and to strengthen the exchange between Hong Kong youth and their Mainland counterparts.

Children's Rights

The Children's Rights Forum is a platform for children's organisations, children and the government to exchange views on matters that concern children. It relays children's views on government initiatives to the Family Council for consideration in assessing the impact of government policies on the family. In 2017, the Children's Rights Education Funding Scheme supported NGOs to conduct 30 projects to enhance understanding of children's rights enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Helping Ethnic Minorities Integrate into Community

The government commissions non-profit-making organisations to run six support service centres and two sub-centres for ethnic minorities, offering tailor-made classes, counselling and integration programmes. One of the centres also provides free language interpretation on the telephone to help ethnic minorities use public services. Two government-sponsored community support teams offer special services for ethnic minorities through members of their own communities.

In addition, the government funds radio programmes and publishes service guidebooks in a number of ethnic minority languages. District-based Integration Programmes help ethnic minorities better understand Hong Kong and encourage them to join community activities, the Ambassador Scheme introduces public services to ethnic minorities and makes referrals where necessary, and the Youth Ambassador Scheme reaches out to ethnic minority youths who are in need of services. A team of publicity officers who are familiar with ethnic minority cultures and languages conducts talks and exhibitions to promote racial harmony in the community.

Committee on the Promotion of Racial Harmony

The committee advises the government on the promotion of racial harmony and equality, including the 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 Race Relations Unit.

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