Deputy Chief Secretary Cheuk Wing-hing today encouraged Hong Kong youth participating in an employment scheme to seize the opportunities and accumulate valuable working experience in the Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Mr Cheuk attended the Welcoming Ceremony for Young People employed under the Greater Bay Area (GBA) Youth Employment Scheme in Guangzhou this morning.

Addressing the ceremony, he said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to encouraging Hong Kong youth to participate in the development of the GBA and to give full play to their strengths to serve the bay area's needs.

He thanked Guangdong Province for its staunch support for the scheme as well as all the participating enterprises for helping Hong Kong youth to look far and seize the huge opportunities arising from the GBA development.

Mr Cheuk encouraged all Hong Kong youth participating in the scheme to seize the opportunities and accumulate valuable working experience in the Mainland cities of the GBA.

“On a personal level, they should learn the operations of different industries on the Mainland and interact with Mainland talent to build a solid foundation for their career development.

“On a social level, they should deepen their understanding of national affairs and the latest development of the country, and make greater contributions to Hong Kong on leveraging its unique advantages of enjoying the strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world to better integrate into national development."

Mr Cheuk also had a lunch meeting with Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Guangzhou Municipal Committee member and CPC Guangzhou Municipal Committee Secretary General Bian Liming.

The last stop of the Guangzhou leg of his visit was Yong Qing Fang, where Mr Cheuk was briefed on the development of Cantonese Opera at the Cantonese Opera Art Museum.

Mr Cheuk wrapped up his trip in Macau to attend the Welcome Dinner of the first Business Conference on Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development.

The business conference brings together professionals and experts from the business sectors of Guangdong, Hong Kong, Macau and around the world.

The Deputy Chief Secretary said as a new platform for business exchanges between Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau, he hoped the conference would help explore new business opportunities and seek new development.