Labour Secretary Urges Youth to Find Own Path, Embrace Change at CDIA Ceremony
SingTao · 2 SOURCES1 day ago2 MIN
Summary
The Labour and Welfare Bureau Secretary Sun Yuk-hon attended the Y-WE 2026 ceremony at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University on October 19, delivering an encouraging message to nearly 700 grassroots senior secondary students who completed the Youth Development Alliance's (CDIA) work experience programme this year. Emphasising that everyone has a suitable path, Sun urged young people to actively pursue change and self-improvement while developing interpersonal skills. Former Police Commissioner Siu Chak-yee also shared insights on perseverance and attitude.
Key Points
- Nearly 700 grassroots senior secondary students from the Strive and Rise alumni and Children's Development Fund successfully completed the Y-WE programme, receiving recognition at the ceremony
- CDIA has been operating for over 13 years, arranging internships for high school students across various industries, with the programme now expanding to the Greater Bay Area
- Sun Yuk-hon compared CDIA's role to "turning the ignition key" for young people, stating the organisation helps ignite opportunities, but long-term progress requires individual effort
- The Secretary highlighted AI technology as both an advantage and a challenge for today's youth, urging them to continuously upgrade their skills while mastering interpersonal communication
- A South Asian participant named Tree Sha, who joined Y-WE in Secondary 4, discovered his passion for IT, completed an IT associate degree, interned twice in the Greater Bay Area and Hong Kong, and was subsequently hired part-time
Why It Matters
The programme demonstrates how public-private collaboration addresses youth unemployment and career uncertainty amid economic transformation. CDIA's shift from passive career matching to proactive exploration of emerging industries—including shipping and navigation—in response to national development planning signals a more strategic approach to youth development that directly ties individual aspirations to Hong Kong's economic future .
The programme demonstrates how public-private collaboration addresses youth unemployment and career uncertainty amid economic transformation. CDIA's shift from passive career matching to proactive exploration of emerging industries—including shipping and navigation—in response to national development planning signals a more strategic approach to youth development that directly ties individual aspirations to Hong Kong's economic future .