Students hone English public speaking skills
There was a record number of applicants for the Hong Kong English Public Speaking Contest this year - over 800 entries as the deadline approached. The competition is organized jointly by the HKFYG and the English Speaking Union in Hong Kong and solely sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank.

We have a common goal with the Federation - improving communication skills and providing opportunities to practice spoken English. In Hong Kong we can do so across cultural and national boundaries and have a chance to build on each other's strengths.

Dr. Verner Bickley, MBE, Chairman, The English Speaking Union, Hong Kong

Proficiency in English is seen by parents as the key to a successful career since the language has undoubted importance in a multicultural city like ours. But one has sympathy for the students who speak English too rarely to gain confidence and fear making mistakes. The education authorities are pragmatic about the issue, recognizing that although the situation is not ideal, Hong Kong needs a bilingual if not tri-lingual workforce. Few would argue about the great demands this places on students and schools.

"As one of last year's judges I am delighted to see how many entries there are this year. It shows that the organizers know how to make this competition relevant and useful to young people. It is an excellent chance for them to hone their skills and boost their confidence in speaking English outside school - they get too few opportunities like this."

Sir TL Yang, Member of the Judges' Panel, Grand Final, 2004-2005

To speak before any audience needs poise and presence as well as powers of persuasion. To do so well in a second language deserves congratulations and encouragement.

Global Youth Service Day - Four Projects including Book Donations 6000 young volunteers and corporate volunteers will be mobilized by the Youth Volunteer Network (VNET) in April for this year's four Global Youth Service projects. The projects include the distribution of about 2,500 free books to 600 families covered by social welfare (CSSA). Mr Paul Tang, Director of Social Welfare will officiate at the Service Recognition Ceremony: Date: 16 April 2005 Time: 12 noon Venue: Hong Kong Park Contact Jacqueline (VNET), tel 2169 0032 for information on Global Youth Service projects

Modernized Youth S.P.O.T. We are proud to announce that modernization and renovation work at Kin Sang is now complete and the Youth S.P.O.T. has been renamed the HKFYG Jockey Club Kin Sang Youth S.P.O.T. to reflect the Jockey Club's generous support. We hope to provide quality youth services with even better equipped facilities here in future. Click here to take a glimpse of the new look Kin Sang Youth S.P.O.T.

Art Exhibition by Day Nurseries There will be a gallery exhibition of drawings done by children from the Federation's two Ching Lok Nurseries in Sai Wan Ho and Yaumatei on 2 April. The exhibition gives the children a chance to show off their creativity and artistic talent as well as raise funds for the "Children's Cancer Foundation" by selling their drawings. Date: 2 April 2005 Time: 10am to 4 pm Venue: Exhibition Gallery of The Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre

Thanksgiving for parents
The core services of the Federation include programmes for 6 year-olds in primary school to parents in their thirties. We know that family relationships across age-groups are crucial and bearing this in mind the Federation's School Social Work Unit decided to launch the Project on Family Relationships (生命再起飛-青年為父母打氣「 親親父母、傳傳情」親情速遞) to show young people the joy they can bring to parents by saying an unexpected thank you…Click here to read about it

Careers in China
There are many career opportunities on the Mainland. How do young people in Hong Kong feel about following them up? A recent Federation poll survey has examined the attitudes of over 540 young people to working in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD). Click for some recent figures...

Party on

Last December customs officers made the biggest hauls of cocaine and Ecstasy ever in Hong Kong yet supply is increasing and prices are falling so it comes as no surprise that there has been a steep rise in the use of ketamine and Ecstasy by the under 21's.Click to learn more…

Leisure reading rare among university students

A survey published in the Chinese University's School of Journalism & Communication monthly, U-Beat, reveals that nearly 50% of the university students spend less than an hour reading purely for pleasure each week and 20% spend no time on leisure reading at all. Click to learn more about the findings…