Prepare to serve country, CE tells youths
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor on Sunday encouraged Hong Kong youths to grasp the abundant opportunities brought by the nation’s rapid development and contribute to the country.
She made the remarks at the closing ceremony of an annual military summer camp co-organized by the People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison.
During the ceremony at San Wai Barracks in Fanling, Lam told hundreds of Hong Kong teenagers the country supports Hong Kong in integrating itself into national development plans, such as the Belt and Road Initiative and the Guangdong-Hong KongMacao Greater Bay Area.
Up to 500 local youths — 270 male and 230 female students from 138 secondary schools — took part in the summer camp, including 200 Secondary 1 and 2 students who joined for the first time.
During the two-week event starting on July 16, the younger students received five days of basic military training, including formation drills, singing military songs and using military language.
Apart from the basic training, 300 senior students were given more advanced military training in areas like traditional Chinese martial art boxing, physical training, combating readiness and map using skills.
Visits to Shek Kong Barracks and going on a frigate reconnaissance mission were also arranged to strengthen students’ knowledge of national security.
The PLA summer camp, which has been running since 2005, has been among popular summer activities for Hong Kong youngsters, with more than 3,700 youths having joined so far.
Apart from the summer camp, the PLA Hong Kong Garrison is actively involved in community activities, including blood donation and visiting the needy.
Cai Yongzhong, political commissar of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison, said he expected the students to apply the skills and spirit they have acquired at the camp to guide them in their future development.
Other prominent guests who attended the closing ceremony included Tung Chee-hwa, vice-chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference National Committee; Wang Zhimin, director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; and Xie Feng, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong SAR.
Form-5 student Leung Siu-yuet said one of the things she had learned at the camp is the spirit of unity. She was surprised to find all the participants have made remarkable progress in drill formation although they had started off badly.
Leung said the dining hall at San Wai Barracks offered diversified and nutritional food. “Fruits were always the hottest choice as they were often snapped up immediately”.