He also said the city’s athletes had made “historic progress” by winning two gold and two bronze medals at the Games, which are set to wrap up on Sunday.
“The unyielding professionalism and sportsmanship shown by every one of them has made us proud,” he said.
“While we can’t all be Olympic champions, we can all be champions of our own stories. We can all live [up to] the spirit of the Olympic motto of ‘faster, higher, stronger – together’ in our pursuits.”
Lee also said that the city was a great place to realise such ambitions, citing the importance of the Hong Kong spirit of never giving up and always pushing to achieve the best outcome.
The city leader stressed that young people were Hong Kong’s greatest asset and the government attached great importance to youth development.
Hong Kong offered young people unlimited potential for development thanks to its unparalleled connectivity and the country’s unwavering support, he added.
“To our young people here today, do believe in yourselves, trust your instincts and keep excelling yourselves,” Lee said. “The future is in your hands. Your own hands.”
03:16
Two-time Paris Olympics bronze medallist Siobhan Haughey returns to Hong Kong
Two-time Paris Olympics bronze medallist Siobhan Haughey returns to Hong Kong
The forum, an initiative proposed by the chief executive in last year’s policy address as part of an annual youth festival, was also attended by top Beijing officials in the city and deputy ministers from Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Laos.
Those officiating the opening ceremony included Zheng Yanxiong, director of the central government’s liaison office in Hong Kong, and Cui Jianchun, commissioner of the foreign ministry’s office in the city.
Xu Xiao, president of the All-China Youth Federation, also gave a pre-recorded video speech at the event.
More to follow …
