THE Governor, Chris Patten, officiated yesterday at the signing of the Charter for Youth, with a plea for Hongkong's young people not to see their futures overseas.
More than 400 organisations and individuals showed their commitment to youth development by signing the charter, which lays down principles and ideals to help achieve the ''healthy development'' of young people, such as the promotion of democracy, dignity and peace.
Mr Patten said young people must be given the opportunity to develop their futures in Hongkong.
Subscribers have to produce a report to the Commission on Youth describing how they enshrine the charter's principles in their policies and activities.
Chairman of the commission, legislator Eric Li Ka-cheung, said he was pleased to see that half of his Legislative Council colleagues, including the United Democrats, the Liberal Party, Meeting Point and independents, had signed the charter.
Schools, tertiary institutions and other agencies such as Community Chest and the Federation of Handicapped Youth also signed.
