Secretary Alice Mak Highlights Hong Kong-Vietnam Ties at Christmas Dinner, Emphasizing Youth Development and Opportunities

Speech by Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs at Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam 2024 Christmas Dinner

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, at the Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam 2024 Christmas Dinner today (December 12):

Mr Michael Chiu (Chairman of Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam, Mr Michael Chiu), Mr He Wei (Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Mr He Wei), Ms Tran Thu Thin (Deputy Director General of the Department for Local Diplomacy Facilitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam, Ms Tran Thu Thin), ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening. It is my pleasure to join you all tonight in the vibrant city of Hanoi for this Christmas dinner. First of all, I would like to thank the Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam (HKBAV) for hosting this event to bring us together in this festive and joyful season.

The ties between Hong Kong and Vietnam are deep and enduring. Over the past 25 years, the HKBAV has served as a vital bridge between the entrepreneurial community of Hong Kong and the dynamic market of Vietnam. Your work fosters not only business ties but also friendships that transcend borders. Being one of the most significant trading partners of Hong Kong within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region and one of the fastest-growing markets in the world, Vietnam presents boundless opportunities for young people. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is also keen to strengthen co-operation between Hong Kong and Vietnam by promoting youth exchanges.

At the heart of our city's success lies our young people, who are the future, the hope, and the pillars of Hong Kong. We recognise that their growth is not only a matter of individual success, but also the engine that drives social and economic progress. That is why we are dedicated to equipping young people with the tools, opportunities, and global perspective necessary to thrive in a fast-evolving world.

In late 2022, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau released the Youth Development Blueprint (Blueprint), which is an important framework document that outlines our vision and guiding principles for promoting long-term youth development in the future. It put forward more than 160 measures, covering education, life planning, career development, resilience building, social participation, and much more. We remain steadfast in responding to the evolving needs of our young people, and introduced close to 60 new youth-related measures last year for the Blueprint to progress with the times.

Our commitment to youth development is matched by a strong emphasis on fostering youth exchanges and collaboration, particularly with the ASEAN countries. We have been taking forward various Mainland and overseas youth exchanges and internship programmes to provide young people with diverse and in-depth opportunities for broadening their horizons and cultivating a global outlook. In 2024-25, we offer a total of about 7000 internship placements and 50000 exchange places. Among them, there are around 60 internship placements and 520 exchange places which cover ASEAN countries.

Not only are we offering abundant internship and exchange opportunities for young people, some of the programmes we offer are also one of a kind. For example, this morning, I have met with four Hong Kong student volunteers who have undertaken a six-month assignment at the agencies of the United Nations (UN) in Vietnam under our United Nations Volunteers - Hong Kong Universities Volunteer Internship Programme. They have been participating in the UN's work on poverty alleviation, resilience building, promotion of children's rights and so on. This once-in-a-lifetime experience has certainly broadened their horizons and enabled them to contribute to the international community in the capacity of Chinese youth volunteers. I was also impressed by their enthusiasm, professionalism, adaptability and confidence. I see in them, as well as the young people of Hong Kong, immense potential and promise to become the next generation of globally minded leaders.

This evening, as we celebrate the joy of the season, we are also celebrating the continued partnership between Hong Kong and Vietnam. I believe that by investing in our young people and strengthening our connections, we are laying a strong foundation for a brighter future ahead. Together, let us continue to forge a future where businesses thrive, communities flourish, and young people can pursue their aspirations.

May the Christmas season bring joy, health, and prosperity to you and your families. Merry Christmas, and thank you.

Speech by Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs at Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam 2024 Christmas Dinner Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs at Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam 2024 Christmas Dinner Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs at Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam 2024 Christmas Dinner Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs at Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam 2024 Christmas Dinner Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs at Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam 2024 Christmas Dinner Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs at Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam 2024 Christmas Dinner Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs at Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam 2024 Christmas Dinner Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs at Hong Kong Business Association Vietnam 2024 Christmas Dinner Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Tsui Ping River facilities open today

Under the Revitalization of Tsui Ping River project by the Drainage Services Department (DSD), the Tsui Ping River facilities along the King Yip Street section were opened for public use today (December 12), following the earlier opening of the Tsui Ping Seaside and the sections along Tsui Ping Road and King Yip Lane. The remaining Wai Yip Street section will be opened later this month, marking the full opening of the Tsui Ping Riverside Promenade upon revitalisation.

Speaking at the opening ceremony today, the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said that the DSD has been committed to enhancing the flood control capabilities of drainage facilities in recent years. At the same time, the DSD has been adhering to the concept that "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets" and actively implementing "Rivers in the City" concept, as well as enhancing river ecology and landscape design to create a better living environment for the public. The revitalised Tsui Ping River exemplifies the DSD's efforts.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Director of Drainage Services, Mr Ringo Mok, said that Revitalization of Tsui Ping River is the first riverside public space project that the DSD is solely responsible for its design, construction, maintenance and daily management. He hoped that Tsui Ping River would become a new landmark of Kwun Tong as well as a vibrant and natural public space.

In 2012, the Development Bureau proposed the Energizing Kowloon East Conceptual Master Plan and put forward the concept of transforming the King Yip Street nullah in Kwun Tong into the Tsui Ping River. Without compromising its stormwater drainage function and capacity, the Revitalization of Tsui Ping River project has adopted the concept of "River in the City" to revitalise the previous King Yip Street nullah, which was mainly used for flood prevention. Environmental, ecological and landscape enhancement works were carried out to turn the nullah into the 1-kilometre-long Tsui Ping Riverside Promenade, which provides a riverside public space and enhances connectivity within the district with newly constructed cross-river pedestrian walkways. The project has also enhanced the river's flood protection capacity and reduced the flood risk of Kwun Tong District by deepening a portion of the riverbed from Tsui Ping Road to King Yip Street, as well as installing flood walls upstream.

After revitalisation, the Tsui Ping River is equipped with six landscape decks and seven pedestrian walkways to strengthen the connectivity with the surrounding areas, making it a walkable and accessible green river corridor in the district. With the adoption of advanced technology, an intelligent water gate smartly adjusts its rise and fall according to the weather forecast. This helps manage the water level of the river and maintain maximum drainage capacity. There are also ecological installations including bird perches, rock pools, tidal pools and ecological walls to create favourable conditions for the river ecosystem and attract more natural species to inhabit the river.

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, 75 art installations of the DSD KOL (key opinion leader) named Drainy with various themes have been placed along the riverbank of the King Yip Street section of the Tsui Ping River for public viewing and photo taking.

The Tsui Ping River is adjacent to the Kwun Tong Business Area and Laguna City. To access the promenade, members of the public can walk for about three minutes from Exit D4 of the MTR Kwun Tong Station or walk through Laguna Park for about 10 minutes from Exit D1 of the MTR Lam Tin Station. They can also take various bus and minibus routes to get there.