******************************************

The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, and Mrs Betty Tung celebrated the Lunar New Year's Day today (Tuesday) with children living in small group homes.

Mr Tung and Mrs Tung visited the Chung Hei Small Group Home in Lower Wong Tai Sin Estate where children from small group homes gathered to celebrate the festive occasion.

The Chief Executive and Mrs Tung chatted and shared traditional Chinese New Year food with the children who also received red packets from them.

Mr Tung was impressed by the harmonious and warm atmosphere in the small group home. He reiterated the Government's commitment to ensuring that the younger generation would be well-cared for and brought up in a healthy environment.

The Small Group Home Programme, established by the International Social Service Hong Kong Branch in 1993, is aimed at providing neglected children with family residential care under the supervision of a married couple in each home. The married couple assumes the role of substitute parents to eight children aged four to 18 who need care away from their birth homes due to difficult family conditions.

Mr Tung and Mrs Tung were accompanied on the visit by the Director of Home Affairs, Mrs Shelley Lau, and the Wong Tai Sin District Officer, Miss Diane Wong.

Photo: The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, and Mrs Betty Tung celebrated Lunar New Year's Day with children at the Chung Hei small group home in Lower Wong Tai Sin Estate. The home is run by the Hong Kong International Social Service Hong Kong Branch. Photograph shows Mr and Mrs Tung distributing laisees to the children.

End/Tuesday, February 16, 1999

NNNN