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    The Commission on Poverty (CoP) Task Force on Children and Youth, chaired by Dr. Philemon Choi, held its second meeting this afternoon (July 28). The Meeting discussed the existing programmes relevant to reducing the risks of intergenerational poverty and agreed to focus on measures that improve their interface.

    In considering the existing services and programmes, Members adopted a life-cycle approach and focussed on the risk factors contributing to poverty, the screening mechanism in place and the specific measures adopted in tackling the high risk factors.

    Members were also updated on the latest developments of different programmes for children and youth and were briefed on the Understanding the Adolescent Project as well as the training and support provided to the non-engaged youths.

    Dr Choi, the Chairman, said, "We are delighted to see the rigorous efforts by different parts of the Government, non-governmental bodies and volunteers in preventing and alleviating intergenerational poverty as well as in nurturing the healthy and balanced development of children and youths.

    "To maximise its impact, the Task Force should not duplicate the work of the other fora.  Rather, it should add value by improving their interface, so that various policies and programmes are better integrated to ensure the wholesome development of children and youths," the Chairman continued.

    The Task Force noted that some business and community organisations have long been undertaking activities facilitating the development of children and youth, including those from disadvantaged background.  Members considered it desirable to further complement such socially enriching efforts by proposing new modes of collaboration.  In particular, the Task Force recognised that tackling intergenerational poverty must be a joint community effort involving not only the Government and social work agencies, but also the private sector, schools and most important of all, parents.  Ensuring a positive attitude on the part of the adults and the younger generation and nurturing an inclusive and caring society with rich social capital were crucial to preventing and reducing intergenerational poverty.

    Towards this ends, Members supported building on voluntarism in the community through projects such as "Adopt-A-School" which can help make the best use of the experience and resources of the private sector as well as schools as a platform in helping the development of our younger generation, especially those from disadvantaged background.  Members also noted that the "Mentorship Fun" Project, which seeks to nurture social capital through encouraging voluntarism and sense of care within the student community, would be officially launched in October this year.  

    The agenda and papers of the meeting are available at the commission's official website: www.cop.gov.hk.

Ends/Thursday, July 28, 2005

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