Five young Hong Kong legal professionals, including civil servants and practicing lawyers, will take up positions in key international legal organizations upon the recommendation from the central government.

The decision was announced at a launch ceremony for their secondment held in Hong Kong on Friday.

The five youths will work in three leading legal organizations. Two of them will assume office at the Hague Conference on Private International Law, and two others at the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law, while one will serve at the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Regional Centre for Asia and the Pacific.

Liu Guangyuan, commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China in the HKSAR, hoped the Hong Kong young people will take the opportunity to showcase the competitive strength of the Hong Kong legal sector to the world. At the same time, they will keep abreast of the latest developments and practical experience in global governance and international rule-making, to serve the country in terms of legal issues related to foreign affairs.

Liu called on them to defend the country's interests in their posts. And they can set a good example for Hong Kong young people to shoulder responsibility as Chinese nationals and seize the opportunity of national development.