'Hong Kong youth excited to learn about the country'
Young people have become increasingly enthusiastic in visiting the mainland and experiencing the country's development, according to the home and youth affairs chief. Alice Mak said the number of applications for a cross-border internship programme this year doubled that from the previous year. On RTHK's Your Home Address programme broadcast on Saturday, the secretary for home and youth affairs also said Hong Kong is set to host a youth development summit this summer. "We will set up a platform for our young people to exchange views and learn from other young people from other countries and areas. We will invite the participation of guest speakers and youth groups from the mainland and overseas, so that Hong Kong's young people can exchange views and learn from their counterparts in other countries," she said. "We expect that there are no fewer than 1,000 participants for the summit." Other initiatives targeting young people that have been introduced include a programme for government-backed hostels and an alliance supporting young Hong Kong entrepreneurs in the Greater Bay Area, the minister said.  On the city's community work, Mak said she's grateful for the efforts by more than 450 care teams across the territory. "We have now nearly 5,000 volunteers serving in the care teams. They are willing to contribute to the community," she said.  "In a year's time, we have already visited 90,000 households in the community, and we have provided several thousand services for the residents. These are the achievements that we have made only in a year's time. And I believe, and I trust that, as time goes by, we will enhance our service and we can achieve even more in the community."  The minister said people volunteering in the care teams not only respond to emergencies such as the recent deadly blaze in Jordan, but also provide services to those in need such as the elderly.