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Dr.Rosanna
Wong, DBE, JP |
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18
Years Old and Climbing – Literally !
Turning 18 is when an individual attains the age of majority
in Hong Kong. Coming of Age at 18, therefore, is full of meaning.
Not only are there greater expectations and trust placed upon
18 year olds by society, but they are also now expected to
bear the rights and responsibilities of adulthood. This transition
form adolescence to adulthood is celebrated the world over,
in families and in communities.
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For the past six years, the Federation has also publicly celebrated
this magical occasion. Since 1998, we have encouraged 18 year
olds to take an oath, led by a prominent member of the community,
by which the youth vowed to take their civic duties and responsibilities
seriously and to show commitment to the community.
This year, we have decided to complement the oath taking ceremony
by also inviting those young people who will turn 18 to participate
in hike from The University of Hong Kong to Victoria Peak,
a distance of approximately 3 km.
The participants of this trek will be encouraged to dress
up in costume, while also undergoing various ‘tests’ and ‘trials’
on the route, all conducted in a spirit of fun and enjoyment.
The ascendant trek, as well as the activities along the way,
is to symbolise the upward journeying of young people, that
they can reach the peaks of their own ambitions and desires,
in spite of obstacles and challenges.
Each participant requires a sponsor, because this event is
to raise funds for disadvantaged children and young people
who live in our community. Therefore we urge you to come and
join us! Sponsor an individual and encourage any 18 year old
that you might know, friend or relative, to join in this trek
to help support young people and the work of the Federation.
Do call the Partnership Office on 21239598 for more details.
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***Blossoming
into Adulthood*** |
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Blossoming into Adulthood
Reaching the age of majority is celebrated throughout the world.
In Hong Kong Coming of Age is celebrated when one turns 18 and
is finally considered an 'adult'. These new adults are now old
enough to vote, old enough to make binding contracts, old enough
to make a will and old enough to buy and sell property. They are
also eligible to hold any office, unless otherwise provided for
by law. Turning 18 also allows an individual to obtain a driver's
license, allows them to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages
and allows them to gamble legally. |
With all these increased responsibilities
and possibilities, young people need to set goals and plan
for the future.
In Hong Kong, celebrating the Coming of Age is linked to the
“May 4th Movement”, which took place in 1919, when Chinese
youth bravely took the lead to reform the nation. Those reaching
the age of majority are asked to follow the footsteps of their
predecessors and serve their home city, their motherland and
the world, by taking an oath to be a responsible adult. Similar
Coming of Age ceremonies are also celebrated in Japan, Korea
and Israel.
The Federation will once again organize a public ceremony
to mark this auspicious occasion. Along with taking an oath
to pledge their commitment and duty to the community, the young
people will also be participating in a trek up to the Peak
from The Hong Kong University. This short and symbolic walk
will be a sponsored event to raise money for less privileged
young people in Hong Kong.
We encourage all our partners to join in this exciting event.
Do sponsor a participant!
Click here to learn about the ambitions of some 18 year olds.
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Studying
Overseas
As globalization takes root, more and more young people are
seeking educational opportunities abroad to broaden their
international outlook. According to statistics
from the Education and Manpower Bureau, in 2002, the number
of Hong Kong
students studying in Australia was listed as 6,564, followed
by 4,651 studying in
Canada and 2,698 being educated in America. The table below
shows some of the
most popular destinations for international students.
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Number of Foreign Students
in Selected Countries 2000/2001 |
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Country |
Number of Foreign Students |
Number of Foreign Students from Asia |
Percentage of Asian Students in the Total Number
of Foreign Students |
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1. |
United States |
475,169 |
294,230 |
61.9% |
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2. |
United Kingdom |
225,722 |
74,400 |
32.9% |
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3. |
Germany |
199,132 |
67,658 |
34.0% |
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4. |
France |
147,402 |
19,828 |
13.5% |
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5. |
Australia |
105,764 |
67,849 |
64.2% |
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6. |
Russian Federation |
64,103 |
28,013 |
43.7% |
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7. |
Japan |
63,637 |
58,170 |
91.4% |
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8. |
Canada |
40,033 |
14,414 |
36.0% |
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9. |
Spain |
39,944 |
1,131 |
2.8% |
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10. |
Belgium |
38,150 |
2,609 |
6.8% |
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Source:
Global Education Digest 2003: Comparing Education Statistics
Across the World,
UNESCO
Institute of Statistics |
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Helping Youth to Find Career Opportunities
The Federation and the Home Affairs
Bureau will co-organize the Youth
Career EXPO (青年就業博覽) on February 8-9 at the Exhibition
Gallery and Plaza of the
Kwai Tsing Theatre. The EXPO will also mark the establishment
of the "Employer
Network" (僱主網絡), a connection of industrial and commercial
organizations,
which will become more actively involved in helping young
people find jobs. By February 3, 2004, a total of 50 corporations
had already joined the Employer Network.
Click here to
view the list.
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Through face-to-face interactions
at the Youth Career EXPO, employers are provided with the
possibility to recruit directly from the 700 newly graduated
Positive Life
Ambassadors, Tourism Development Assistants and Young Ambassadors,
all of whom have undergone some form of training by the
Federation. The Federation is extremely grateful to all those
who will participate in this exciting event, especially since
more than 500 jobs will be made available to young people.
Even if participating at the February event might not be possible,
the Federation urges all its partners to offer employment or
training to young people to help their burden. For more information
on how you can help, please do not hesitate to contact us on
3113 7999 and we will be able to put you in touch with some
very eager, hardworking and enthusiastic young people.
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Fashionable Youth
One of the highlights at the Youth Career EXPO is
a Catwalk Show. The Federation's
Positive Life Ambassadors will model around 20 sets of causal
clothes on loan from
Esprit and EDC. Not only the Ambassadors have a chance to show
off the clothes,
they also show off their own artistic and performing talents!
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Spreading
Holiday Warmth to Deprived Families
Over the Lunar New Year holidays, Calbee Four Seas
Co., Ltd.
very generously
sponsored the redemption of 213 Radish Cakes. The Federation
passed on these
vouchers to several families of the Federation's Integrated
Service Project for New
Arrival in Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing districts. The recipients
all enjoyed the food
and had a warm holiday.
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Holidays are a wonderful
opportunity for partner organizations to express their care and
commitment to the more vulnerable of our community. Please do
call the Partnership and Resource Development on 2123 9598 and
see how you can spread the good cheer along with the Federation!
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Dialogue Session with Dr. Sarah Liao
On January 16, over 500 young people spent a wonderful afternoon interacting
with
the Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works, Dr. Sarah Liao.
This meeting
was part of the "Dialogue
Session with Policy Makers" organized
by the Federation.
Dr. Sarah Liao shared her personal insights on a broad range of issues,
from
reclamation of the harbour, to personal matters like studying, family relations
and
even the criteria for choosing a husband! All those who attended enjoyed
the session.
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Youth, Internet and Pornography
The Whampoa Integrated Youth Centre of The Church
of United Brethren in Christ
interviewed 619 students and young people in Kowloon City
in November 2003.
73% of the respondents admitted accessing pornography on
the Internet. However,
about the same number of them (72%) agreed that pornography
instilled wrong
concepts of sex in young people.
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Child Sex Abuse Cases on the Rise
Latest statistics released by the Hong Kong Police Force
reveal an alarming rise in the
number of child sex abuse cases. These statistics show
that, in 2003, there were 1,028
child abuse cases in Hong Kong of which 61% (611 cases)
were sex abuse cases. This
was an increase from 599 (out of 1,044) in 2002.
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Who Wants to be the President? Not Many Teens!
Nearly 8 out of 10 teenagers in the United States
said that they were not at all
interested to have President Bush's job, according to an
ABCNEWS/Weekly Reader
Poll. Their reasons cited included, having no interest in
politics or having other career
plans (40%); the job having too much responsibility or stress
in the job (20%), or the
workload simply being too great (15%). One respondent said, "I
don't want to get assassinated". However, most teens
(57%) were interested in the 2004 presidential
election campaign. The poll, conducted by phone on
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January
7-11, 2004, interviewed 505 young people between the ages of
12 to
17 years. Click here to
learn more.
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The First International
Students Conference on AIDS
The
first International Students Conference on AIDS will
take place at the University
of Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania on February 2-6, 2004, under the
theme "Youth: Force
for Change!" 500 students from different parts of the
world will assemble to discuss
and exchange real life experiences and knowledge on issues
related to HIV/AIDS.
The Conference will also have a cultural component and performances
will be held, each carrying messages related to this deadly
disease.
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.Copyright©2003-4
The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups |
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