Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung attended a sharing session on the Internship Programme for Non-ethnic Chinese (NEC) Students today, where she listened to the students share their internship experiences and encouraged them to better equip themselves in preparation for their future career planning.

Mrs Yeung was pleased to learn that the students had gained a deeper understanding of the work of the civil service through their internships in different bureaus and departments.

She said: “The Government attaches great importance to attracting talent from different backgrounds to join the civil service and building a diversified pool of talent to enhance the quality and efficiency of public service.

“In the recruitment process, all candidates are assessed on the basis of their ability, performance and character. Race is not, and has never been, a relevant consideration.”

Born and raised in Hong Kong, and being biliterate and trilingual, Administrative Officer Gurung Marco Ben and Executive Officer Kaur Gurinder Deep, Diya, were appointed as civil servants through the open recruitment process. At today’s event, they shared their experiences in applying for civil service jobs, as well as their daily work.

Mrs Yeung said the Government is glad to see NECs joining the civil service, and encouraged young people to equip themselves in order to take on challenges.

This year, 44 students joined the Internship Programme for NEC Students, marking a record high. Among them, Sheik Mahmood Afif, a university student studying computer engineering, assisted with the daily operations of the Smart Government Innovation Lab, including developing artificial intelligence analysis tools. He said the internship allowed him to apply his knowledge to work, and strengthened his interest in pursuing a career in a technology-related field.

Another intern, Lama Sujata, was posted to the Leisure & Cultural Services Department’s Festivals Office to take part in designing promotional materials, hospitality for artists, and venue management liaison. She credited the internship with enabling her to familiarise herself with the application of design and image processing software and enhanced her knowledge of event planning, which will greatly help her future career.

While Narag Kezra Leigh, a social work student, just finished her internship at the Labour Department where she assisted in promoting the Youth Employment Start. She remarked that the experience allowed her to better understand the employment services provided by the Government, in particular those for young people, and improved her interpersonal skills.