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Paving the way to successTwo years ago, I invited a group of local young people who had just participated in the WorldSkills Competition in Leipzig, Germany to the Chief Executive's Office to listen to the experiences and insights they had gained from the competition. I was impressed by their enthusiasm for and confidence in the work sectors that they were joining. Knowing that the Hong Kong team had recently finished this year's WorldSkills Competition in São Paulo, Brazil and returned with good results, I invited the young contestants and their instructors and parents to a tea gathering at Government House today to share their joy.
Aiming to promote excellence in various skills, this biennial event, hailed as the "Skill Olympics", attracted the participation of over 1 200 young contestants from more than 60 countries and regions this year. Hong Kong's representatives competed in 16 categories, winning medallions for excellence in seven, namely, IT Software Solutions for Business, Mechatronics, Graphic Design Technology, Visual Merchandising and Window Dressing, Beauty Therapy, Hairdressing, and Wall and Floor Tiling. All our young contestants are students of institutions under the Vocational Training Council (VTC) and the Construction Industry Council, as well as winners of last year's WorldSkills Hong Kong Competition. They were chosen to represent Hong Kong in this international event according to strict selection criteria, and they practised hard for a long time to get ready for the competition. Experts from the relevant sectors were invited to be their mentors to help them improve their skills and psychological qualities. Students of the Hong Kong Design Institute specially designed smart uniforms for the team, and shot highlights of the preparation process and the competition. I am of course glad that our representatives achieved good results in this year's competition, but I am even more delighted to see that they took the opportunity to interact with other contestants from around the world, widen their horizons and further enhance their skills and confidence in their respective sectors. I would like to thank all the people from various Hong Kong sectors who have played an active part in organising skills competitions over the years. They have helped identify and nurture talented young people for many sectors and promoted the development of specialised skills.
Some people still think that conventional academic programmes are superior to vocational education. However, the fact is that vocational education, which helps students acquire specialised knowledge and practical skills, is just as good a study pathway as university education. Despite a drop in the number of candidates taking the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination in recent years, the overall enrolment in VTC programmes has remained stable, with about one out of four HKDSE Examination candidates pursuing study in institutions under the VTC. This shows that vocational education has become a major study pathway for many young people.
Over the years, vocational education has nurtured countless people for various sectors in Hong Kong, supporting our economic development along the way. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to actively promote vocational education so as to provide multiple pathways for young people with different aspirations and aptitudes to unleash their potential. I always quote the saying that "chance favours only the prepared mind". All young people can build a successful career and even become masters of their trades as long as they dare to try and do their best to equip themselves, just like the young contestants I met today. August 27, 2015
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