A  territory-wide survey conducted by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups found that young people had great expectation for education policy of the SAR Government and the Secretary for Education and Manpower.  40% of respondents respectively hoped that the Government would give priority to unemployment problem and education in the coming year. 

In respondents' heart, a sympathetic ear and understanding of the plight of citizens, responsibility and ability to handle tasks assigned, as well as deep integrity were considered to be the most important criteria in being a good Secretary. 

Of the 520 young respondents, 259 (50%) expressed an interest to be any one of the Secretaries if given the chance.  The Secretary for Education and Manpower was the most popular Secretary to whom respondents most wished to be, followed by the Secretary for Environment and Food.  The Secretary for Security and the Secretary for Economic Services ranked third and fourth.  Of those who expressed an interest to be any of the Secretaries, around 30% attributed the reason for their choice in a particular Secretary to a "discontent of existing policy", followed by the great influence and importance they believed that particular secretary had reserved

     Although more than half of the respondents said that they did not want to meet any Policy Secretary, some 12.4% would like to meet the Secretary for Education and Manpower, with 4% of respondents wanting to meet the Secretary for Housing and the Secretary for Economic Services.  The Secretary for Education was also ranked as having the greatest influence in Government, followed by the Secretary for Security and The Secretary for Economic Services.  12% of respondents were of the view that all the Secretaries enjoyed great influence. 

     Issues related to unemployment, education, and environmental protection were three areas to which respondents expected the Government to give priority in the coming year.  Issues related to economic revitalization and the supply of housing ranked fourth and fifth.  

With regard to education policy, the areas to which the Government should pay attention were to upgrade the quality of teachers, reform educational structure and examination system.  With regard to improving unemployment, more than 40% of respondents believed that the Government should give priority in stimulating the economy.  The proportion of respondents looking for more pre-employment training, learning and skill-developed training courses were also significant.  The findings highlight that young people had a great expectation that the education policy would upgrade one's competitiveness.

     With regard to the environmental protection policy, the areas to which the Government should pay attention were improving the air quality, increasing the awareness of environmental protection, and improving the water quality and reducing rubbish or refuse materials. 

   With regard to housing policy, the areas in which the Government should give priority were to monitor the quality of housing, provide more housing units, and stabilize property prices, as well as shorten the waiting periods for public rental units.

    The telephone poll, conducted by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups from 18 to 23 September, successfully interviewed 520 young people aged between 15 and 29.  Around 60% of respondents issued 50 points or above on a scale of 0-100 to the performance of the Chief Executive on upgrading the competitiveness of local people, as well as in improving the quality life for local citizens over the past year.  Yet, on average the Chief Executive scored 48 points only regarding his performance on the two areas, a figure 2-points below the pass.  Older respondents were more critical than their younger counterparts in evaluating the performance of the Chief Executive on upgrading the competitiveness of local people. 

         The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups has been conducting surveys on youth's views regarding Government's policy since the establishment of the SAR Government.  The Federation will submit the results of this survey to the relevant Policy Bureau for reference.