HKFYG Youth Matters

Raising the gambling alarm

Most, if not all young people are aware of the major perils of the internet: cyber stalking, cyber bullying, online pornography and violence, gaming, chatting and even addictive behaviour. With services aimed at helping young people learn about internet safety, it might be considered that all the bases are covered. However, there is no room for complacency.

Recent studies* have pointed out the fact that younger and younger age groups gamble online. What makes this so alarming is that gambling is illegal in Hong Kong for those under 18. Furthermore, for those old enough to gamble legally, the line between occasional social and recreational gambling and gambling addiction is very fine. The concern is that with simulated gambling apps and the accessibility of online gambling on many devices, more and more teenagers in particular will devote greater amounts of time and money to these activities, unaware of their addictive nature.

To offer support to those who might fear that the young people in their charge have a problem with addictive gambling behaviour, the Federation offers assistance at its Youth Wellness Centre.** We all have a responsibility to tackle this issue, and preferably to nip gambling in the bud.

*HKFYG latest survey on gambling May 2012 http://www.hkfyg.org.hk/chi/press_releases/2012/gambling/index.html

The Study on Hong Kong People's Participation in Gambling Activities, Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Commissioned by The Secretary for Home Affairs Incorporated, March 2012 http://www.hab.gov.hk/file_manager/en/documents/policy_responsibilities/others

** HKFYG Youth Wellness Centre tel 2465 2828 email ywc@hkfyg.org.hk

Congratulations!

Hong Kong's top Odyssey of the Mind teams from HKFYG excel at OMP Finals in the US with STFA Lee Shau Kee College as a Champion

The 2012 Odyssey of the Mind World Finals were at Iowa State University from 21-28 May with teams from the US competing and against those from Hong Kong, Canada, China, Germany, Korea, India, Switzerland, Mexico, Kazakhstan, Japan, Poland, Singapore and others. The 6 Hong Kong teams performed outstandingly. STFA Lee Shau Kee College was Champion among 45 teams in one section, St Stephen's Girls Primary School and POH Chan Kai Memorial College were 1st and 2nd runners up respectively, in another section. Queen's College, St. Paul's Co-educational College and Sha Tin Methodist College also performed very well. Bravo to them all! Click here for more details. Call Kylie, 2561 6149 for further information.

Team Nexus of Carmel Secondary School wins Presentation Award
at FLL World Festival 2012 in the US

We send congratulations to Team Nexus from Carmel Secondary School for their great success representing Hong Kong at the FIRST LEGO League (FLL) World Festival in St Louis, Missouri from 23-30 April 2012. The team won the Presentation Award for their project, competing with 78 finalists from 33 countries or regions. FLL is an international programme formed by the LEGO Company and its partner FIRST. Teams build robots and conduct research then present findings on a given theme. The FLL Robotic Tournament was introduced to Hong Kong by HKFYG in 2005 in partnership with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Semia Ltd. Contact Kam, tel 2561 6149, for more information.

Services

HKFYG's new Youth Crime Prevention Centre focuses on youth crime and deviance, sex crimes and drugs with hotline 81009669, interactive website and smartphone app

The purpose of the new Youth Crime Prevention Centre is to provide innovative and effective services for youth-at-risk and young offenders while strengthening and enhancing existing services at HKFYG. Hotline 81009669 plus an interactive website and a smartphone app, YouthLaw, will be launched at the opening ceremony on 7 June in the Auditorium of the HKFYG Building, 4.30-5.30pm. Under Secretary for Security, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, SBS, IDSM, JP, will be Guest of Honour. Preventive education, crisis intervention and professional assessment, counselling and treatment, multi-disciplinary collaboration, and advocacy services will be available at the centre. Call Wilson, tel 3755 7064, for more details.

Coming soon

Dragon Foundation Charity Gala Premiere
of The Amazing Spider-Man on Tuesday 26 June 2012
at AMC Pacific Place Cinema
Financial Secretary, The Hon John Tsang Chun-wah, GBM, JP, will be Guest of Honour at this charity film premiere on 26 June. Many thanks to title sponsors, Bucherer Hong Kong Ltd and Prince Jewellery and Watch Co for their support. Full details of all sponsors can be found here. Proceeds of the charity showing will go towards Dragon Foundation Chinese youth development programmes which support networking and community-building worldwide. Call 2811 2779 to find out how to sponsor or donate.

Thank you to all our partners

Our 15 Years: Youth Musical Performance to celebrate the HKSAR's 15th anniversary with a Guinness record-breaking attempt by youth with major sponsorship from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust
On Monday 2 July 2012 at the Hong Kong Coliseum, from 11am-12.30pm HKFYG is holding this official commemorative event with 8,000 youth, in celebration of the HKSAR's 15th anniversary. The event's major sponsor is The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. There will be multimedia performances to recognize the special characteristics of Hong Kong and its

people with a Guinness record-breaking attempt for the Largest Body Percussion Ensemble, conducted by Dr Lung Heung-wing. A cappella singing by the mass youth audience plus school choirs from Belilios Public School and Wah Yan Kowloon College, will be conducted by Mr Chiu Tsang-hei. The event will star Eason Chan, Kay Tse, Joey Yung, Lam Fung and Jonathan Wong. Organized by HKFYG and Radio Television Hong Kong, co-organized by the Home Affairs Bureau and The Dragon Foundation with the Education Bureau as supporting organization. Venue sponsor, Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Call 3755 7134 for more information.

HKFYG projects sponsored by the Community Participation Scheme 2012-13 of the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education
The Community Participation Scheme of the Committee on the Promotion of Civic Education has approved three funding applications from HKFYG's Cultural Services Unit, Jockey Club Shaukiwan Youth S.P.O.T. and Tin Shui Youth S.P.O.T. Their projects will focus on the promotion of voluntary work, moral education, and the theme of "Cherish yourself and your family, Love Hong Kong and your country." For details, please contact Brenda at 3755 7102.

Well done Heep Yunn School, Kwok Tak Seng Catholic Secondary School and Ho Dao College for success in Hong Kong Student Science Project Competition
20 finalist teams showcased ingenious project work in the finals of the Hong Kong Student Science Project Competition on 2 June. Jointly organized by HKFYG, the Innovation and Technology Commission, the Education Bureau and the Hong Kong Science Museum, the competition is supported by Hong Kong Science Park and media partners, Hong Kong Broadband and eCampus Today. Champions (Investigations) Junior and Senior Divisions, were from Heep Yunn School. Kwok Tak Seng Catholic Secondary School and Ho Dao College (sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen) were champions (Inventions) of Junior and Senior Divisions respectively. Winning teams may go to Korea to take part in InnoTech Month 2012. Call Kimpton, tel 2561 6149, for more details.

Hats off to 及時雨 (Champion), The Time Traveller (1st runner-up), and Tri-Deuces (2nd runner-up) at the Hong Kong Youth Band competition
Finals of the Hong Kong Youth Band competition were on 2 June at Youth Square, Y Studio. 102 bands entered, playing funk, pop-rock, Blues, and straight pop music. 及時雨 was the winner. The Time Traveller was 1st runner-up and the Tri-Deuces were 2nd runners-up. The other finalists were Band-Aid, Pandora, Polygon, Shandy & The Swinging Paws, ApphiA, Leohart, Winewood, Yes, La Rosier and Eli. Many thanks go to sponsors of cash prizes, Sennhieser and Tom Lee, donor-in-kind, Coca Cola and Judges, Davy BigFly@LMF, Kevin Li@LMF/Hardpack, Sammy So@Kolor and Adky Wun. Pendular, last year's Champion, was the guest band at the opening. Call Michelle for more details, tel 2395 5753.

Recent events

Cross-border pilot scheme for talented post-secondary students of finance
launched today by Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau with HKFYG support

A group of 22 outstanding local finance students begin 6-week work attachments with Shanghai enterprises next week in a pilot bilateral exchange programme. First of its kind, this Pilot Scheme was launched on 5 June by Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau, with the support of the Shanghai Municipal Government Financial Services Office. It is organized by the Advisory Committee on Human Resources Development in the Financial Services Sector and supported by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups. Its goal is to help build communication links among financially talented youth in Shanghai and Hong Kong, potentially adding impetus to future co-operation. Professor KC Chan, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Edward Kwan Pak-chung, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Human Resources Development in the Financial Services Sector, and Miss Au King-chi, Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services) are Guests of Honour. Contact Stanley, tel 3586 8477 for more details.

Just published

YBHK's latest publication - Essential Lessons for Youth Entrepreneurship [青年創業秘笈] funded by Love Ideas ♥ HK
To promote youth entrepreneurship and share valuable business experience among peers, this book includes stories of 10 youth businesses supported by the Federation's Youth Business Hong Kong (YBHK) about running various business start-ups such as a restaurant, an IT company and a pet shop. The young entrepreneurs, who have benefitted from the Federation's seed funding and mentorship have a lot to share about business strategies. For more details, contact Miranda Wong, tel 3113 7999.