The Home & Youth Affairs Bureau will publish the first edition of the Youth Development Blueprint within this year to outline the principles, objectives and actions of the Government in pursuing youth development.

In his Policy Address today, Chief Executive John Lee said the goal is to nurture a new generation of young people who love their country and Hong Kong while having a global perspective and a positive outlook.

The blueprint is the Government's very first major document dedicated to youth development. The bureau and the Youth Development Commission are now seeking views from young people and stakeholders. They have organised and participated in over 80 related activities so far, and are paying visits to all 18 districts to learn more about the views of young people which will then be incorporated into the master plan.

The Government is also planning to launch the Youth Participation Initiative to engage more young people in public affairs and enhance their interaction and trust with those who run the city. The number of advisory committees participating in the Member Self‑recommendation Scheme for Youth will rise from 60 to no fewer than 180 to enhance their role as talent "incubators" while young people will be encouraged to participate in community development programmes.

Mr Lee said he would encourage various departments and professional grades in the Government to form youth groups and organise activities regularly to enrich young people's understanding of various government departments and professions, and guide them in their career pursuits. Furthermore, the Chief Executive pledged the Government would work with all sectors of the community to help young people broaden their horizons, acquire a better understanding of the nation, the world, and develop a holistic outlook.

In his address, Mr Lee also talked about the launch of an annual Hong Kong Youth Festival starting next year. Different sectors of the community will be invited to jointly organise a wide spectrum of activities for engaging young people and helping them develop their potential. Additionally, the Government is planning to regularise the Greater Bay Area Youth Employment Scheme to encourage participating enterprises to recruit and deploy university graduates from Hong Kong to work in the bay area.

In addition to helping find and create jobs for young people, Mr Lee outlined plans to invest in housing for younger generations. He said the Government would again launch the Starter Homes projects in the Land Sale Programme in the next financial year. The Government will also explore ways to increase the supply of youth hostels, including subsidising non‑governmental organisations to rent suitable hotels and guesthouses for use as youth hostels, with the target of providing about 3,000 additional hostel places within five years. Youth tenants will be charged rental of about 60% of the market level; in return, they have to commit themselves to providing district or volunteer services to the community.