The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Mr Péter Szijjártó, at Central Government Offices, Tamar, today (December 1) to announce the establishment of a bilateral Working Holiday Scheme between Hong Kong and Hungary. Photo shows Mr Cheung (right) and Mr Szijjártó at the signing ceremony.

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung (fourth right), met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Mr Péter Szijjártó (fourth left), at the Central Government Offices, Tamar, today (December 1) to announce the establishment of a bilateral Working Holiday Scheme between Hong Kong and Hungary. Also attending the ceremony were the Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Miss Annie Tam (second left); the Commissioner for Labour, Mr Carlson Chan (first right); the Assistant Commissioner for Labour (Policy Support), Ms Queenie Wong (first left); the Consul-General of Hungary in Hong Kong, Dr Pál Kertész (third left); the Ministerial Commissioner, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Mr Gyula Budai (third right), and the Director General, China Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Ms Márta Tóth-Mészáros (second right).

Hong Kong and Hungary today (December 1) signed an agreement to mark the establishment of a bilateral Working Holiday Scheme for young people of the two places. The scheme will commence operation on July 1, 2017.

The agreement was signed by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Mr Péter Szijjártó, at the Central Government Offices, Tamar.

Mr Cheung welcomed the establishment of the scheme with Hungary. He said, "This scheme provides an opportunity for young people in Hong Kong and Hungary to broaden their horizons and to gain living and working experience in a foreign culture. It will also further reinforce bilateral ties between Hong Kong and Hungary.

"The scheme with Hungary is the 11th bilateral working holiday scheme that Hong Kong has set up and also our first partner along the Belt and Road," Mr Cheung said. Since 2001, Hong Kong has established working holiday schemes with New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Germany, Japan, Canada, Korea, France, the United Kingdom and Austria. So far, more than 75 000 Hong Kong youths have benefited from the schemes.

When the scheme commences operation on July 1, 2017, youths from each side will be able to apply for a visa under the Scheme which will allow them to stay in Hungary or Hong Kong for up to 12 months. During the period, they may work to finance their stay or study self-financed courses. There will be an annual quota of 200 from each side.

The Hong Kong Immigration Department or the Consulate General of Hungary in Hong Kong and Macao will respectively issue a working holiday visa to a successful applicant from Hungary or Hong Kong who meets, amongst others, the following eligibility criteria:

• The applicant must be an ordinary resident of Hong Kong holding a valid Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) passport or British National (Overseas) passport for at least the intended period of stay; or a citizen of Hungary holding a passport valid for at least the intended period of stay;
• The applicant must be aged between 18 and 30;
• The applicant must not be accompanied by dependent family members;
• The applicant must possess a departure ticket or sufficient financial resources to purchase such a ticket, and have proof of the financial resources necessary to provide for his/her maintenance during the period of initial stay in Hungary or Hong Kong; and
• The applicant must hold medical and liability insurance for his/her entire authorised period of stay.

Details of visa application procedures for applicants from Hong Kong can be found on the website of the Consulate General of Hungary in Hong Kong and Macao at hongkong.gov.hu/en. Applicants from Hungary may contact the Hong Kong Immigration Department by telephone on 2824 6111 or obtain the necessary information from the Department's website www.immd.gov.hk.

Ends/Thursday, December 1, 2016