John Lee defends two-year youth jobs push
On.cc · 10 SOURCESabout 10 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Thursday that the government’s two-year “30,000 Youth Jobs and Internship Scheme” is designed to help young people build experience and address a key weakness in entering the labour market. In the 2026 Policy Address released a day earlier, the government said it would work with major employer groups and chambers of commerce to provide 10,000 additional full-time jobs for young new entrants from the first quarter of 2027, alongside expanded internship and training channels. Officials have also said the plan was shaped by consultations in which employers and business groups raised concerns that artificial intelligence was replacing some jobs and making it harder for graduates to find work, and that they hope the scheme can be expanded over time
Key Points
- The two-year scheme targets young people with relatively little or no work experience, combining jobs, internships and training under a 30,000-place package.
- From the first quarter of 2027, business groups and chambers will provide 10,000 extra full-time jobs lasting at least six months for young new entrants.
- For those hires, the government will cover HK$6,000 a month or up to one-third of wages, whichever is lower, for six months.
- The government will expand the Innovation and Technology Internship Programme and refine the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau youth startup internship scheme, offering more than 10,000 places in two years with at least HK$11,000 support per participant.
- The Construction Industry Council and government will continue graduate on-the-job training subsidies in 2027 and 2028 with HK$5,000 monthly support for 10,000 places, while the Financial Services Development Council will add 1,000 finance internships.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong families and graduates, the immediate test is whether subsidised placements turn into meaningful first jobs in a weaker entry-level market. Lee’s defence of the plan against calls for direct cash support, together with official concern about artificial intelligence displacing work, shows the government is framing youth employment as both a social issue and an economic adjustment challenge.