SEE exchanges views with summer interns (with photos)
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In the meeting, Mr Tse listened to the interns describing their work duties, on-the-job training and other experiences of the internship. Mr Tse encouraged the students to seize the opportunity to broaden their horizons, and to continue to learn hard to further equip themselves and plan for better future pathways.
This year's summer internship programme lasted eight weeks from June to August, with a total of 78 students from local and overseas tertiary institutions joining the programme. Besides gaining practical experience by working in different units of the EPD, the interns visited various types of environmental protection infrastructure and facilities, including the organic resources recovery centre O．PARK1, T · PARK, the waste electrical and electronic equipment treatment and recycling facility WEEE ∙ PARK, EcoPark, West New Territories Landfill, Island West Transfer Station and Green@Community Recycling Stores.
During the meeting with interns, Mr Tse also mentioned that extreme weather conditions have become more frequent in recent years, and he reminded everyone that immediate action should be taken to address the crisis of global climate change. He said that reduction of carbon emissions at source is among the key tasks of the EPD. Interns also learnt about the announcement of Hong Kong's Climate Action Plan 2050 by the Government with the aim to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050. The plan outlines four major decarbonisation strategies and measures, namely net-zero electricity generation, energy saving and green buildings, green transport, and waste reduction.
Mr Tse pointed out that participation of young people is of utmost importance in the process of achieving carbon neutrality. As President Xi Jinping said in his important speech delivered in celebration of the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, "Hong Kong will have a bright future only when its young people have good career prospects". Mr Tse expressed the hope that young people will enhance their understanding of climate change and proactively participate in the development of environmental protection and carbon reduction, green technologies, green finance and more, according to their own interests and strengths, as well as practise a low-carbon lifestyle and combat the challenges of climate change together.
The summer internship programme has been held by the EPD for many years. Since 2015, a more systematic and diversified programme has been developed for students. Through the internship training they can learn about the EPD's policies and plans on environmental protection, energy, nature conservation and promotion of sustainable development, as well as the latest developments of waste management infrastructure.
Among the 78 interns participating in this year's summer internship programme, there were two non-ethnic Chinese students and one student with disabilities, who joined through the internship programmes for non-ethnic Chinese students and for students with disabilities run by the Civil Service Bureau. The EPD has been supportive of these internship programmes so that students can better explore their talents and potential, accumulate practical experience and prepare themselves for future employment.
Ends/Thursday, August 4, 2022
Issued at HKT 19:28
Issued at HKT 19:28
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