To enhance interaction with the media, the Hong Kong New Generation Cultural Association and The Arete jointly hosted the "2026 Media Spring Gathering" on March 10th, inviting 10 media friends from 8 organizations.
Before the gathering commenced, Dr. So Chi-ki, BBS, MH, JP, Executive Director of the Hong Kong New Generation Cultural Association, extended New Year greetings to the media friends. Dr. So pointed out that reflecting on the past year, the unprecedented changes in a century have accelerated, the international landscape remains complex and volatile, and geopolitical situations are ever-changing, which have significant implications for global stability and cooperation. However, under the nation's strong leadership, China's total economic output surpassed 140 trillion CNY in 2025, with its economic prowess, technological capabilities, national defence capabilities, and comprehensive national power reaching new heights. The great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has entered an irreversible historical process. In 2025, Hong Kong's economy grew by 3.5%, maintaining its status as the world's freest economy. Its global competitiveness ranking rose to third worldwide, while its talent ranking and digital competitiveness both climbed to fourth globally. The number of overseas companies with regional headquarters in Hong Kong reached a record high of 11,000. These achievements are truly encouraging.
Dr. So introduced the key initiatives and development blueprint of the Hong Kong New Generation Cultural Association, which aims to foster cultural development and innovation among the youth in Hong Kong. In the areas of youth technological innovation education, university student innovation, and entrepreneurship, the Association will continue to organize various iconic competitions and lead Hong Kong Special Administrative Region representative teams to participate in more than 10 of the most authoritative and representative national and global scitech innovation competitions. In 2026, the Association will organize the Hong Kong regional selection for the "First National Youth AI Competition" for the first time. Moreover, beyond Bank of China's (Hong Kong's) continuous support for the association's various sci-tech competitions, they will start an exclusive sponsorship for the association to hold the "Hong Kong University Students Flag Raising Teams Visiting Beijing" and the "Hong Kong Secondary School Students Flag Raising Teams Visiting Beijing," which will organize 110 university flag-raising team representatives from 10 universities and 77 secondary school flag-raising team representatives from 15 schools to visit Beijing. They will tour the National Flag Guard, observe the national flag-raising ceremony from the viewing platform at Tiananmen Square, and gain an in-depth understanding of Chinese history and culture, as well as the achievements of Chinese modernization, cultivate a deep sense of national pride, and foster a sense of belonging and mission toward the nation and its people.
Furthermore, this year, the Association will also organize flagship exchange programs in this year, such as the "Hong Kong Youth National Conditions Study Programme (Jiangsu, Shandong)", "My Motherland—Beijing-Hong Kong-Macau Student Exchange Camp", and the "Belt and Road: Portugal & Spain Historical and Cultural Study Tour", guiding Hong Kong youth to deeply understand national and global development trends and progress in tandem with the nation.
Mr. Yiu Tsz-yat, Executive Director of The Arete, shared the organization's work priorities for 2026 during the gathering. As a non-governmental think tank, The Arete is committed to uniting diverse sectors of society, leveraging innovative thinking and a global perspective to collectively explore pathways for Hong Kong's future development and cultivate various types of outstanding talent for Hong Kong. Mr. Yiu highlighted The Arete's work in policy research and advocacy, as well as leadership training and youth exchanges. Key activities for 2026 include drafting the "Civil Policy Address" and organizing the "Outstanding Student Leaders Selection," the "Hong Kong Youth Students Jiangsu Study Tour", and the "Belt and Road: Hungary & Serbia Historical and Cultural Study Tour".
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