On the second day of a visit to Beijing, Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak today called on State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) Executive Deputy Director Xu Qifang and other officials.

Miss Mak briefed Mr Xu on the work of the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB), including ongoing initiatives on district governance, youth development and women's affairs. She also thanked the HKMAO for its support and guidance.

Miss Mak also called on Communist Party of China Central Committee Society Work Department Vice Minister He Zhiliang to exchange views on grassroots governance.

The HYAB highlighted that district governance in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has entered a new phase, with executive-led governance being fully implemented. It said that the District Councils, “the three district committees” and Care Teams form a troika, co-operating to serve citizens, under the leadership of District Officers.

The HYAB and the Home Affairs Department also conduct training to enhance District Council (DC) members' capabilities in discharging their duties. Last year, this included arranging visits to Shanghai and Zhejiang for them to learn about grassroots governance on the Mainland.

Miss Mak said the HYAB will continue to unite district forces and enhance service efficiency to increase the public’s happiness and contentment.

She then met State Administration for Religious Affairs Vice Minister Wang Zhigang to exchange views on religious affairs.

Stressing that the Hong Kong SAR Government maintains close communication with religious groups in Hong Kong, she described the harmonious relationships between different religious groups, adding that in addition delivering teachings they provide education, medical and welfare services, making significant contributions to the community.

In the afternoon, Miss Mak attended an inauguration ceremony for a Youth Internship Programme at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

She highlighted that the six-week programme is an important co-operation project co-organised by the HYAB and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and gives Hong Kong youth high-end scientific research internship opportunities during the summer vacation every year.

Miss Mak congratulated the 20 young Hongkongers who made it through a highly competitive selection process.

Speaking at the ceremony, she commented the National 14th Five-Year Plan has driven Hong Kong's development as an international innovation and technology centre.

She also outlined that the Hong Kong SAR Government is committed to nurturing scientific research talent.

Miss Mak expressed her hope that the programme will nurture students' passion for scientific research and serve as the starting point for their contributions to Hong Kong's innovation and technology development and to the country.