Welcoming Speech by Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, JP Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour at the Opening Ceremony of the Education & Careers Expo 2005 on Saturday, 19 February 2005

Mr. Ip, Mr. Lam, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning and thank you all for coming to the Education & Careers Expo 2005. Let me wish you all a very happy, healthy and successful Year of the Rooster.

2. First of all, I would like to express my sincere thanks to Mr Stephen Ip, Secretary for Economic Development and Labour for sparing the time from his hectic schedule to officiate at this opening ceremony.

3. The annual Education & Careers Expo has reached its 15th anniversary. Over the years, it has served as the best platform for students and indeed the public at large to enrich themselves with up-to-date and comprehensive information on education, training and the employment market for mapping out their future. Attendance at this popular annual event has been overwhelming. Last year, it attracted 190,000 visitors.

4. The Expo this year has lined up a total of 477 education and careers exhibitors, forming a huge databank of valuable information on education and career opportunities.

5. The Education Section features a rich array of programmes offered by educational institutions in Hong Kong as well as overseas countries, including the United States, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Some of the most well-established educational institutions in the Mainland also provide valuable information on their study programmes.

6. The Careers Section covers a wide spectrum of industries including logistics, financial planning, accounting, property development, food production and engineering. The exhibitors consist of a number of government departments, private enterprises, professional associations and vocational training institutions. They are ready to offer first-hand information on job prospects, market intelligence, and self-developmental opportunities. The newly established theme zone on financial planning provides one-stop information for those interested in joining the profession.

7. The Labour Department's booth highlights its diversified employment services for job seekers, as well as its two flagship youth programmes, i.e. the Youth Pre-employment Training Programme and the Youth Work Experience and Training Scheme. Although the unemployment rate for 15-24 age group has come down from an all-time high of 19.1% in the summer of 2003 to the latest figure of 9.8%, and the jobless rate for the 15-19 age group from its peak of 37.6% in the period of June-August 2003 to 21.5% now, youth unemployment still remains on the high side. There is simply no cause for complacence. I therefore urge our young people to grasp the opportunity and enroll in one of the programmes in order to enhance their employability.

8. In addition to the rich information presented in the attractive exhibition booths, visitors can also obtain in-depth information from a series of seminars and video programmes on various subjects of interests.

9. I strongly recommend job-seekers to visit the Expo to widen their scope for pursuing lifelong learning and to get first-hand information on various professions from veteran practitioners. Let me also remind our young people that opportunities are always reserved for those who are well prepared!

10. Finally, I wish to thank the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, our co-organizer, for their concerted efforts in staging this meaningful Expo. My thanks also go to all the exhibitors and participants for their dedication and continual support. I am sure that their efforts will turn into fruitful experience for all visitors to the Expo. Thank you.