THE Hong Kong SAR Government was committed to providing a wide range of opportunities and options for youth, Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa said Saturday at the opening ceremony of the Youth Summit.

　　Tung said young people were assets of the community and represented Hong Kong’s future.

　　“To maintain our competitiveness and sustain our development, the government is committed to providing a wide range of opportunities and options for the youth, enabling them to develop their potentials to the full according to their abilities and interests,” he said.

　　Tung made clear that he understands very well that young people are facing difficulties in pursuing further studies and seeking jobs under the prevailing sustained high unemployment rate as part of economic restructuring.

　　He reaffirmed that his government was most concerned about their difficult situation.

　　He had invited people from all sectors to come up with practical plans to provide young people with pluralistic options in terms of training and employment opportunities to develop their talents in sports, music, arts and other areas.

　　The chief executive stressed that no matter how difficult the challenge for young people, their parents, the whole community and the Government would stand by them to provide the best assistance they could.

　　Commenting on the theme of this year’s summit “Cultural Identity — Development and Commitment,” Tung pointed out that “following our reunification in 1997 to become the first special administrative region of China after a century’s separation with the motherland, we, the people of Hong Kong, and our young people in particular, should affirm our Chinese identity and get a better understanding of the country and the roots of our heritage.”

　　Resilience and creativity were essential qualities of culture and were ingredients alloyed in the character of Hong Kong people.

　　“We must do our utmost to maintain and nurture these qualities in our youth culture,” Tung said. (Xinhua)