Eighteen years ago, when Hong Kong youth Paul Mak came to Shanghai for the first time, he fell in love with this city, not only because he found a career but also romance. 

In the 1950s, Mak's mother left Shanghai for Hong Kong, which was experiencing rapid development. Lots of Shanghai people brought technology, capital and management experience to Hong Kong, making great contributions to the rise of the city.

After the Chinese mainland's reform and opening-up, the first people to invest in Shanghai were mainly from Hong Kong.

"Shanghai and Hong Kong are closely interconnected," said Mak.

In 2002, Mak came to Shanghai to assist his uncle in opening a Shanghai branch of his uncle's clothing company. The newcomer noticed a Shanghai lady who was working there too.

Five years later, the two were married. Since then, Mak has settled in Shanghai with his wife.

"Hong Kong is my home, so is Shanghai," said Mak.

During his work and stay in Shanghai, Mak has been committed to strengthening youth exchanges between Shanghai and Hong Kong.

The Shanghai-Hong Kong Youth Association is a non-profit, non-governmental organization founded in Hong Kong in 2009. As a member of the Shanghai Youth Federation, it is dedicated to promoting exchange activities among the youth from Hong Kong and the Yangtze River Delta region.

"You can call our organization a public service one, and only one person in the entire secretariat gets paid," he said.

During his tenure at the Shanghai-Hong Kong Youth Association, Mak actively promoted "Shanghai-Hong Kong Internship Program for Tomorrow's Leaders" and "Shanghai-Hong Kong-Macao Youth Economic Development Forum."

By organizing Hong Kong's college students' visits to Shanghai for summer internships, he enabled students to learn about Shanghai in a working environment and enhance exchanges between the two cities.

However, these simple public welfare activities were inevitably criticized.

"Some people say that we are a brainwashing group," said Mak.

"Everyone who has visited us knows this is not true. Whatever you see, good or bad, you can talk about it when you are back, but it is not necessary to say that Shanghai or the Chinese mainland is better in whatever aspects. No place is perfect."

"My original intention was to give young people a choice," said Mak.