In Hong Kong, youth research under colonial rule was primarily remedial in nature, focusing on topics such as outreach services and rehabilitation programmes, whereas youth research post-1997 emphasizes the cultivation of leadership and patriotism, social participation, as well as the adoption of a global or Greater China perspective.

In his Policy Address 2000, the Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee-hwa, outlined, at length, his policy on youth welfare and development in the millennium, indicating that youth-related issues would be given top priority on the government's agenda. The then Financial Secretary, Mr Donald Tsang, also announced in his last budget the investment of $100 million on youth services, marking, for the first time in a decade, the government's firm commitment to youth welfare. Very much in line with the government's attitude was the formation, earlier this year, of the Dragon Fund, a Hong Kong-based foundation, which aims to promote cultural exchange and development of Chinese youth the world over. In a much fuller sense than ever before in Hong Kong's history, our young people will become the future leaders of not only our society, but our country.