Secondary school students taking part in a government programme aimed at tackling intergenerational poverty will each get a HK$10,000 allowance, and they will receive guidance from their mentor on how to spend the money.

Announcing details of the Strive and Rise Programme on Monday, Chief Secretary Eric Chan said 2,000 form one to form three students will join the one-year pilot scheme.

They will each be assigned a voluntary mentor from various sectors to guide them on different skills, such as how to broaden their horizons, make plans for their lives, manage their finance and better communicate with others.

“We trust that, after one year, these students will surely know [about] themselves better. And, they will be able to set up their own life goals and then they know how to achieve their goals,” the chief secretary said.

Chan added businesses will be invited to take part by sponsoring the programme, offering job shadowing opportunities and nominating mentors.

Last month, Chief Executive John Lee announced the setting up of a task force to fight intergenerational poverty, along with the programme benefiting underprivileged youngsters.