Prime Minister Stephen Harper welcomes new agreement on Youth Mobility with Hong Kong

December 06, 2009

HONG KONG – Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced today that Canada has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on youth mobility with Hong Kong following a meeting with Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.  The MOU will allow qualified young people aged 18 to 30 from Canada and Hong Kong to travel and work in each other’s territory for up to one year.  It is expected to come into effect in March 2010.
 
“As a result of this agreement, young people will gain an understanding of other cultures by living, working and travelling abroad,” said Prime Minister Harper.  “This experience will also help them develop personally and professionally, giving them a competitive edge in the job market.”            
 
Canada currently has 20 bilateral arrangements in place that encourage youth mobility.  Additional bilateral arrangements have been signed with Spain, Slovenia and Lithuania in 2009.  These arrangements will come into effect in 2010.
 


Backgrounder

YOUTH MOBILITY MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH HONG KONG

Canada and Hong Kong have concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on youth mobility that will allow qualified young people aged 18 to 30 from Canada and Hong Kong to travel and work in each other’s territory for up to one year. 
 
The MOU is expected to come into effect in March 2010, with the maximum number of participants initially set at 200 for each territory. 
 
In 2008, approximately 20,000 young Canadians travelled and worked overseas under international youth programs, while approximately 45,000 foreign participants travelled and worked in Canada.
 
These exchanges give young people cultural experience, help them build international networks and gain the skills and work experience to succeed in an increasingly globalized society.