ENG-2018 — Page 188

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Education

Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Basic Law to enhance the public's understanding of one country, two systems' and sense of national identity.

The committee's Civic Education Resource Centre at the Youth Square houses reference materials on civic education and youth development. It also organises training courses, seminars, sharing sessions, film shows, guided tours and exhibitions.

Youth Development Commission

The Youth Development Commission was established in April. Chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, it serves as a steering committee to enhance policy coordination within the government and enable holistic and more effective examination and discussion of issues of concern to young people. It will promote cross-bureau and cross-departmental collaboration and undertake to address young people's concerns about education, career development and home ownership, and encourage their participation in politics as well as public policy discussion.

The commission pinned down three broad policy directions for its future work, namely, assisting in young people's selection of suitable study pathways, facilitating their career development and upward mobility, and strengthening communication channels with them. To support the commission's work, the government announced in the 2018-19 Budget reserving a sum of $1 billion, and of this, it further announced in the 2018 Policy Address that $500 million would first be allocated to implement programmes and measures in support of the above directions.

Three task forces are set up under the commission. In the light of the policy directions endorsed by the commission, the Task Force on Youth Exchange and Internship will provide advice on non-local youth exchange and internship programmes, while the Task Force on Youth Development Fund and Programmes will oversee the Youth Development Fund and other youth development activities. Both task forces will also help implement relevant youth programmes. The Task Force on Youth Outreach and Engagement will keep in touch with young people through different channels to enable the government and the commission to gauge their pulse, understand their views and adopt their suggestions.

The commission and the Home Affairs Bureau, through organising or sponsoring programmes such as the Youth Ambassadors Programme, provide young people with opportunities to display their talent to the fullest, sharpen their competitive edge and become future masters of Hong Kong with vision, creativity, commitment to society and leadership qualities. Offered under the various programmes are internship and exchange, start-up support, youth life planning, volunteerism and commendation schemes.

Space Sharing Scheme for Youth

This scheme is implemented through a community-business-government tripartite partnership to provide a platform for owners of revitalised industrial and commercial buildings to contribute floor areas for the operation of co-working space or studios, to support start-ups of emerging industries and young people who are setting up their own businesses, and to support arts and cultural development. Participating owners rent out space to suitable NGOs at no more than

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