More than 45,000 young people have been trained under the program since its introduction four years ago.

Speaking at the Prize Presentation Ceremony of YPTP Saturday, Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labor Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said that with the support of the government, employers, training institutions and parents, the program was helpful to school leavers with no work experience and vocational skills. Many trainees were able to set out their objectives in life and career.

The Youth Work Experience and Training Scheme (YWETS) provides on-the-job training for young people aged between 15 and 24 with education below degree level. More than 3,500 employers have offered 15,000 training vacancies so far. Over 6,400 trainees have been successfully placed in training vacancies under the scheme. They are mainly engaged in education, retail, business and personal services as well as the manufacturing industry. Over 5,200 trainees have been placed in other jobs in the open employment market with the advice and assistance of their case managers.

"Despite our difficult budgetary situation, the government has allocated 715 million Hong Kong dollars (US$91.78 million) to create 32,000 short-term employment and training opportunities as part of the relief measures. These include 6,000 additional training places under YPTP, bringing the total to 18,000. Among the short-term vacancies, 8,350 are for young people. It shows that the government is highly concerned about youth employment," he said.

The Labor Department held on Saturday a contest for the "Most Improved Trainees" to commend those who had performed outstandingly and their training bodies.

Ten "Most Improved Trainees" and 10 "Caring Training Bodies" received awards from the chairman of the Commission on Youth, Choi Yuen-wan, at Saturday's ceremony.

"Targeting at youngsters who lack confidence, discipline, direction in life and vocational skills, the YPTP enhances their employability by giving them pre-employment training, workplace attachment, career counseling and support services," he said.

In 2002-03, over 1,000 employers provided more than 11,000 attachment places, with almost 70 percent from the private sector. Most of these places came from tourism and related trades, business services and social services sectors.

"More diversified and job-specific skills training will be introduced in this year's program, which will start next month, to cater for the changing needs of market and young people," Cheung said. "We will try to explore as many employment opportunities as possible for the youth."

New courses include training on comic book production, stage acting, disc jockey and radio broadcast, fingernail painting techniques as well as environmental hygiene and pest-control.

Cheung noted that the solution to the unemployment problem lay in the overall revival of the economy. He stressed that the government had adopted various measures to stimulate economic development, which would help create employment opportunities in the near future.

(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2003)