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The Secretary for Education and Manpower, Professor Arthur KC Li, spent the morning of his first weekend of the year in Kwai Tsing District today (January 6) .
Talking about his visit to the district, Professor Li said : "While I am really impressed by the professionalism of those working in the logistics industry in the busy container terminal, I am also glad to see the quieter side of life in Kwai Tsing, as I joined little children in their story-telling session at the Tsing Yi Public Library."
While the Lantau Link View Point might be a popular tourist spot during weekends, Professor Li noted that the souvenir shop there might not be frequented by as many visitors. Professor Li invited a group of kindergarten students having drawing class at the View Point to pick souvenirs of their choice from the shop as gifts for the new year.
He told the parents that the souvenir shop was operated by New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association. He said, "60% of the staff working here are rehabilitated people. They make all those pretty souvenirs. I wish our younger generation will learn to accept them and support their re-integration into society."
Meanwhile, Professor Li was pleased to learn from parents that their children's kindergarten had decided to lower its tuition fee so that students could benefit from the voucher scheme to be introduced in the next school year.
To know more about young people, Professor Li dropped by the Metroplaza and visited shops patronized and run by youngsters to have a taste of their pastimes, their creativity and entrepreneurship. "We in the education sector should never just sit in our office. We should go out and see how our young people are doing and what they really want," he said.
He concluded," Kwai Tsing District demonstrates to me what it takes to make a vibrant and sustainable community. And I wish to try my best to let rehabilitated people contribute to society, to provide quality education to our children and to help youngsters stretch their potential to the fullest."
Ends/Saturday, January 6, 2007
Issued at HKT 20:55
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