Realizing young people's hopes and aspirations

A director's post should be created to oversee national education, including coordinating and implementing related student activities and courses, to reduce teachers' workloads.

Emphasizing the importance of talents, lawmaker Tang Fei, who is also former principal of Hong Kong's Heung To Secondary School (Tseung Kwan O), hopes the Policy Address would delve into cultivating young talents as this is key to strengthening Hong Kong's competitiveness.

Besides, it's important to attract more professionals from the Chinese mainland and overseas with not only tax and housing incentives, but also education benefits, says Tang. Education is also a vital factor for professionals, especially those with families, in deciding whether to reside in Hong Kong.

The introduction of nonlocal talents will also create healthy competition in the local market.

On the role of the newly created Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, Tang hopes it will launch initiatives to help Hong Kong youth, especially grassroots students, to open up their horizons and inspire their fighting spirit through various activities, such as exchange programs, with the mainland and the Belt and Road countries and regions.

Tang also believes it's important for the government to further optimize education in primary and secondary schools, as well as kindergartens, to cultivate students' creativity and build up their interest in technology and innovation.

Jack Cheung Ki-tang, chairman of the Hong Kong Youths Unified Association, hopes the chief executive will clarify the role of the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and its blueprint for youth development.

He said the difficulties that young people face when purchasing a home are hindering their motivation to move up the social ladder. The government should offer them more support in this regard, such as giving priority to young families with children under the Home Ownership Scheme, and cooperating with private real estate developers to provide discounts for youngsters in buying homes.