The "Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Junior Professional Officers to the United Nations" launch ceremony was held today and attended by Chief Executive John Lee.

With the support of the Central People's Government and the assistance of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hong Kong SAR, 12 young public officers have been recommended to participate in the UN Junior Professional Officer Programme.

They will be working in the UN offices in New York, Geneva, Vienna, and Nairobi as Chinese personnel, and are expected to report for duty in early 2023 for a two-year tenure.

The Hong Kong SAR took part in the programme for the first time in 2019, with five young public officers recommended for work in UN offices.

Addressing the ceremony, Mr Lee said the huge support given by the central government in sending young public officers of Hong Kong to work in the UN is a recognition of the city’s young people.

He encouraged them to give their best in the international arena, to serve as the bridge of the country and the world as well as serve to tell good stories of Hong Kong.

The 12 officers are from the Financial Secretary's Office, Environment & Ecology Bureau, Labour & Welfare Bureau, Department of Justice, Customs & Excise Department, Drainage Services Department, Government Laboratory, Intellectual Property Department, Police, Transport Department and Independent Commission Against Corruption.