Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak on Sunday expressed confidence that young Hong Kongers will seize the opportunities from a new youth training programme unveiled in the Policy Address.

Speaking on a radio programme, she said the city’s “outstanding” young people would make the most of the Young Talent Training Programme.

Mak also dismissed suggestions made by lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen in a recent article that young people here are losing hope about the future.

She said young people here have great language skills and global exposure, and she doesn't believe they’re choosing to lie flat – a slang term for people who get by doing the bare minimum.

"This kind of comment is really unfair to young people. From our interactions with them, we don’t think our young friends are really choosing to lie flat. They genuinely want opportunities – and when you give them a chance, they'll work really hard to seize it," Mak said.

She said her bureau is willing to nurture them by giving them opportunities to participate in international conferences and internships.

Mak also expressed hopes that the Youth Development Summit – which brings international officials and experts here to speak to young people – will become a marquee event in future.

She said more than 3,000 people had signed up for the event last month, including overseas participants from places such as the United States, Kazakhstan and Malaysia.

Locals volunteers who helped Hong Kong successfully host the event, Mak said, had developed a sense of ownership from the experience.