Written by 
Cheng Wong
Nearly 4,000 internship opportunities at over 80 government departments will be offered to youngsters in the coming year to attract young talent, Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung Ho Poi-yan says.
But lawmakers expressed concerns that newly recruited young staff may not receive adequate guidance and training due to the departure of many senior civil servants.
In response, Yeung said government departments must “grit their teeth” and accept interns amid staff shortages, otherwise, the issue will only worsen.
The diverse internship positions are created for young talent interested in government operations and NGOs, allowing them to expand their views and keep them from moving overseas.
She added that limited Chinese proficiency has reduced internship applications from non-Chinese students, resulting in single-digit placements.
Last year, the administration provided online learning resources to help non-Chinese interns manage work and encouraged them to use community resources to improve their language skills.
Yeung added that the administration has consistently offered language training for civil servants and is considering adding courses in languages like Arabic.
Regarding recruitment enhancement, she noted that the administration hires about 10,000 new civil servants annually and is adopting a multifaceted approach to attract young talent, including coordinating various departments to hold a Government Career Fair at three local universities.
She said the bureau introduced a measure last year to expand recruitment to year three students, selecting at least 60 on conditional offers, enabling training through pre-employment internships and on-site learning in preparation for joining the civil services.
”I believe this program is successful. Is 60 a significant number? Considering it’s just the beginning and the first year, we see this as a successful figure,” Yeung said.
The digitized Basic Law and National Security Law Test will be launched next year to encourage year-round recruitment and expedite talent hiring.
She also indicated that the administration has conducted recruitment activities targeting mainland students in recent years.
During her visits to the mainland universities, Yeung found that English proficiency among most students did not meet the job requirements.
She said the bureau has reached out to mainland universities, urging them to offer more English courses to students.
Yeung said the administration is committed to providing young people with substantial development opportunities, including training, inspections and participation in secondments and exchanges within the city, mainland and overseas.
cheng.wong@singtaonewscorp.com