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Northward Bound

More Hong Kong youths are contemplating pursuing careers in the Mainland following the 'Youth Study Mission to the Pearl River Delta,' writes THINEX SHEK

Wong Kim-fai, a second-year student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, says Mainland enterprises are increasingly providing more training to their employees, which means competition for jobs will be fiercer in the future. If young people from Hong Kong wish to pursue careers north of the border, then they need to better equip themselves with the necessary skills and knowledge that employers are looking for, he suggests.

Kim-fai is one of the 81 youths who joined the Chamber and Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups' (HKFYG) study mission to the PRD on June 28-30 to gain a better understanding of current economic developments as well as career opportunities in the Mainland.

According to government statistics, an estimated 240,000 Hong Kong people now work and live in the Mainland, with the majority of them being stationed in Guangdong. As more Hong Kong and foreign enterprises invest in the Mainland, demand for talented professionals is expected to create more employment opportunities for young professionals from Hong Kong.

During the three-day trip to Guangzhou, Dongguan and Shenzhen, Hong Kong youths met with Guangdong officials and visited Mainland, Hong Kong and multi-national companies operating in the PRD, including manufacturers of buses, garments, electrical appliances and cables, in addition to service suppliers in the banking, real estate and catering sectors.

Speaking at a "Mission Conclusion Workshop" to the youths upon returning to Hong Kong, Dr Rosanna Wong,HKFYG's Executive Director, encouraged them to seize opportunities to broaden their horizon. She also recommended that the students develop a habit of keeping themselves abreast of the latest developments in the Mainland, and strive to continually improve themselves.

Peter Wong, Director of Standard Chartered Bank -- sponsor of the event -- said that Hong Kong's talented workforce continues to be our most valuable asset. With the implementation of CEPA, enterprises are seeking more energetic and confident talent familiar with the Mainland environment to drive their businesses forward. 

HKGCC CEO Dr Eden Woon, also speaking at the conference, said that as the Mainland economy continues to soar, more Hong Kong and foreign enterprises will invest in China to capitalise on this growth.

"This trip has enabled Hong Kong youths to get in touch with the real China, to learn more about her, including the demands and drawbacks of the Mainland market," he added. "I believe such knowledge will add value to their career."

Ng Oi-kei, a first-year university student from Canada, said what impressed her most about the trip was the opportunity to talk with several CEOs. Through these meetings, she learned that the career paths of business leaders are rarely smooth and full of ups and downs. From their stories, she discovered how maintaining confidence in one's self and aiming to continually upgrade one's skills and knowledge can mean the difference between success and failure.

Other participants said they learned that while China's economy is growing rapidly, manufacturers there are keen to expand into overseas markets. They are also aware that as the Mainland's service industry advances -- in terms of IT applications and modernisation -- this will create both challenges and opportunities for Hong Kong. 

Overall, the delegates said they were confident of their ability and were planning to develop successful careers in the Mainland.

When asked at the conference by Dr Wong if the trip has changed their plans to go north, two-thirds said that they would now consider working in the Mainland, up from a third before the trip.  

"Looking Northward -- Mainland Career Prospect for Hong Kong Youth" project is a continuation of the successful "Pearl for Youth" project launched by the Chamber, Standard Chartered Bank and HKFYG in 2003. For more information visit, www.chamber.org.hk/pfy

Thinex Shek is a Manager with the Chamber's Business Policy Division. He can be reached at, thinex@chamber.org.hk 

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