Hong Kong uniformed youth groups lose 8% members
SCMP · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago1 MIN
Summary
Youth membership in Hong Kong’s subsidised uniformed groups has continued to shrink, with total enrolment across 11 organisations falling from 117,671 in the 2020-21 academic year to 108,551 in 2024-25. The drop came despite recurrent government subsidies remaining broadly stable, prompting debate over whether funding should be tied more closely to performance.
Key Points
- The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau provides recurrent subsidies to 11 uniformed youth groups, allocating a total of HK$86 million for the 2024-25 academic year.
- Total youth membership across the 11 groups fell 8 per cent in five years, from 117,671 in 2020-21 to 108,551 in 2024-25.
- Over a longer period, membership dropped nearly 18 per cent from 131,870 in 2013-14, indicating a decade-long downward trend.
- The Hong Kong Adventure Corps recorded the steepest decline, with membership plunging 30 per cent from 4,882 to 3,403 over five years.
- The Hong Kong Road Safety Patrol also fell by more than 22 per cent, while the Scouts, Guides and Boys’ Brigade reported declines.
Why It Matters
Lawmakers are questioning whether stable public funding should come with clearer performance indicators, while some groups fear a membership-based approach could weaken smaller organisations further. The issue matters because the subsidies are intended to promote positive values, whole-person development, and national and ethnic identity among young people in Hong Kong.