Renewing Friendly Ties: YLDA Secretary-General Meets with Hong Kong Youth Leaders
2008-04-07

YLDA Secretary General Jan Argy Tolentino with Filipino friends in Hong Kong during a meeting with Hong Kong Democratic Party Youth leaders Wong Fung Chu and Andrew Chiu last March.

Young Liberals and Democrats of Asia Secretary General Jan Argy Tolentino continues to develop ties between YLDA and young Asian leaders.

The Secretary-General met with Ms. Wong Fung Chu and Andrew Chiu of the Hong Kong Democratic Party Youth Wing in a restaurant during a personal visit in the former British territory last March 26, 2008. Ms. Wong Fung Chu is one of the founders of YLDA, was a Chairperson of the Youth Committee from 1998 to 2001 and is currently a member and acting Secretary of Standing Committee of NT West Branch of the Democratic Party of Hong Kong. Mr. Andrew Chiu is a Councillor from Tai Ko Shing West. He is also the youngest Councillor of the Democratic Party.

Over coffee and desserts, the young leaders, discussed YLDA activities in 2007, possible membership in YLDA, and personal views on issues gripping the region. For about two years now, Hong Kong liberal youths have been conspicuously absent in YLDA gatherings and thus, the Secretary-General discussed with the Democratic Party specific programs of YLDA for the year 2008 wherein he also asked his counterpart in Hong Kong to help YLDA improved its political standing in the region by expanding its sphere of influence amongst Hong Kong's youths.

"While a very informal one, the get-together was a meeting of minds with similar aspirations and dreams," says Mr. Tolentino. "YLDA was able to present its projects for 2008 such as the Training of Trainers on Modulation and Facilitation Skills (ToT) in Bangkok while they (Ms. Chu and Mr. Chiu) updated YLDA on events happening within the Democratic Party," adds the YLDA Secretary General.

The Democratic Party Youth representatives also expressed their personal views and opinions on the last Taiwanese elections and the possible repercussions in the crackdown by Chinese authorities in Tibet. Finally, the meeting also saw the opportunity for the hosts to renew their commitments to YLDA's programs and ideals together with their promise of a more active role in YLDA this 2008.

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