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The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Donald Tsang, and the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology, Mr John Tsang, visited Tai Po this afternoon (December 10) to better understand how the local residents live and work in the district and to gauge the community's views on the general economic situation.

They first went to Tai Po Mega Mall where they talked to stall-holders about their operations and sales, especially in the run-up to Christmas and New Year holidays.

"Talking face to face to business operators about how their businesses are faring and chatting with local residents about livelihood and economic issues helps me stay in touch with public sentiment," the Chief Secretary said.

The two then visited the Hong Chi Pinehill Advanced Training Centre, which has been taking care of people with mental handicaps since 1976.

After touring the professional cleaning and housekeeping training rooms and a bakery and pastry workshop, the Chief Secretary said: "I am pleased to see the trainees working so hard to receive occupational training such as housekeeping and cookery in the centre. These kinds of skills help prepare them to join the workforce.

"I hope members of the public can understand more about people with mental handicaps and encourage their self-reliance so that they can integrate well with the community and live positively," he said.

The Chief Secretary said he was delighted to learn that a local company had teamed up with the training centre to provide occupational training facilities and techniques for the trainees and to provide placement opportunities for the graduates.

Some 20 graduates of the training programme have secured jobs since it launched in February 2002.

"This collaborative mode is a good example of how the private sector can provide support for the mentally handicapped."

Before concluding the visit, the Chief Secretary attended a meeting of the Tai Po District Management Committee in Tai Po to learn more about district management and to show his support for the committee.

Noting that Tai Po's Community Cleanliness Index has been improving, Mr Tsang said, different government departments had been working well with residents to improve community hygiene.

"I hope government departments will continue to work together with the public to keep Tai Po a clean and nice place to live," he said.

Meanwhile, the Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology visited an oyster sauce factory in the Tai Po Industrial Estate.

Under CEPA II, sauces were among the 713 Hong Kong origin goods to which the Mainland would apply zero-tariff status from January 1, 2005.

The oyster sauce factory, which employs about 500 people, is among 800 establishments in Hong Kong engaged in food and beverage manufacturing.

Mr John Tsang toured the testing laboratory, testing kitchen, oyster sauce production line, Quality Assurance Department and Packaging Department.

He was pleased to learn that the company was striving to improve the quality, design and packaging of its product so as to establish its brand in both the Mainland and overseas market.

Ends/Friday, December 10, 2004

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News clip (Real Media/Windows Media)