Interview March 2021∣Youth Hong Kong
Support for interns l Government job training schemes aim to boost young people's employment opportunities.
l 香港特區政府的實習計劃旨在提升青年的就業機會。
l TOP, administered by HKFYG, is for youth wanting careers in telecoms.
l 香港青年協會推出的「資訊及通訊科技人才培訓計劃」 （Telecommunications Opportunities Programme，英 文 簡 稱 TOP）專為有志投身電訊業的青年提供寶貴的機會。
l Some of the other government job skills programmes are designed for GBA placements.
l 同時，政府亦提供一連串專為大灣區實習而設的就業技 能培訓計劃。
Young people’s career prospects have been badly affected by the pandemic and they need as much support as they can get. Mr Edward Yau, Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of Hong Kong, explains why he hopes youth will draw encouragement from a new initiative launched under the Job Creation Scheme of the Anti-epidemic Fund. The Commerce and Economic Development Bureau (CEDB) scheme embraces two programmes. First, the Telecommunications Opportunities Programme (TOP), which is creating 100 full-time job opportunities with HKFYG. Read about examples in the preceding interview. When asked why the creative industries had come into the limelight in the Future International Talent (FIT) programme, Mr Yau refers to the involvement of 11 Hong Kong chambers of commerce. They are working with locally-based companies to offer over 100 full-time internship positions with priority given to the creative industries. “While the programme is not sector-specific, we accord priority to our creative industries, namely, advertising, architecture, design, digital entertainment, film, music, printing and publishing, and television.” These are one of the Hong Kong government’s key economic pillars. “They are important for enriching the diversity of Hong Kong’s economy and many recent graduates aspire to careers in this sector.” Applications for the internships have already begun and the CEDB’s website is listing job ads. As Mr Yau adds, “The employers will also conduct their own recruitment exercises. They are required to make an employment offer within three months of approval of applications.” Asked about the format and content of the attachments, Mr Yau goes on to say, “For FIT, we anticipate there will be a variety of vacancies for young people.” Employers will provide on-the-job training that contributes to long-term 18
career development. For TOP, employers are also providing a wide range of vacancies including software programmers, assistant engineers, and sales and marketing trainees.” Beneficial outcomes are expected to continue even though the programme’s subsidies will cease after a maximum of 12 months for each job position. Nevertheless, Mr Yau assures, employers joining the programmes are encouraged to continue employment of the young participants, thereby “providing much-needed job opportunities for our young people at this difficult time.” “FIT offers global perspectives and wider exposure to young people through work, in particular those who aspire to pursue careers in the creative industries,” he concludes. “For TOP, working and training opportunities in the promising era of 5G telecommunications will help to equip employees with lifelong skill sets for career development.” Mr Edward Yau has more than 30 years of public administration experience and was Secretary for the Environment from 2007 to 2012 then Director of the Chief Executive's Office of Hong Kong before becoming Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development.
