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Youth membership in Hong Kong uniformed groups falls 8% in five years
The 11 groups received HK$86 million in 2024-25 subsidies, but total youth membership fell to 108,551 from 117,671 in 2020-21.
Youth membership in Hong Kong’s uniformed groups declined by 8% over the past five years, according to figures compiled by the South China Morning Post, despite government funding remaining steady.
The bureau’s data covered 11 uniformed youth groups that received a total recurrent subsidy of HK$86 million, or about US$11 million, in the 2024-25 academic year. Total youth membership across those groups dropped from 117,671 in 2020-21 to 108,551 in 2024-25.
Over the longer term, membership has fallen nearly 18% compared with 131,870 in 2013-14. The SCMP attributed the trend to persistently low birth rates and students having a wider range of extracurricular activities.
The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau grants recurrent subsidies to groups intended to promote positive values and all-round development, along with national and ethnic identity. While some lawmakers have urged introducing key performance indicators for funding prudence, some organizations worry linking subsidies to membership numbers could affect their development. The Hong Kong Adventure Corps and the Hong Kong Road Safety Patrol saw some of the steepest declines over the 2020-21 to 2024-25 period.