ENG-2018 — Page 189

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Education

one-third of the market rental or operate such space themselves. The operators provide leasing options and support to start-ups, young entrepreneurs and artists at concessionary rents no higher than half of the market rental.

Mainland-bound Thematic Youth Internship Programmes

In 2018, the Home Affairs Bureau collaborated with the Palace Museum and the Wolong National Nature Reserve again to offer two internship programmes that were launched in 2017 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR. The two programmes increased young Hong Kong people's knowledge of the relevant disciplines and professional fields and enhanced their understanding of the country's developments. In view of the remarkable achievements made under the programmes during the pioneering year, the bureau also introduced another two new programmes in 2018, the Youth Internship Programme at Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Youth Internship Programme at Dunhuang. Taken together, all four programmes provided about 70 unique, in-depth and valuable thematic internship opportunities in 2018 to young Hong Kong people.

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 2018, the Children's Rights Education Funding Scheme. supported NGOs to conduct 31 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 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-

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