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The Secretary for Home Affairs, Dr Patrick Ho, today (May 25) received a report from the Committee on Libraries putting forward recommendations of the Committee in enhancing public library services.
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to members of the committee for their hard work and dedicated efforts in drawing up the recommendations on the provision of public library services, " Dr Ho said.
"Taken together, these recommendations seek to enhance the provision of public library services to meet the public needs and expectations and to strengthen the role of Hong Kong Public Libraries (HKPL) as cultural and educational institutions in the community.
"In particular, the HKPL should help in future promote the pursuit of knowledge and the love of reading, support life-long learning, and encourage wider community participation in the library activities and partnership and collaboration with different sectors. The Government welcomes the report and accepts in principle all the recommendations made therein," Dr Ho said.
He added that the Home Affairs Bureau would be studying the recommendations in detail and brief the Legislative Council Panel on the Home Affairs on the Administration's response to the recommendations at its meeting on June 8.
The Committee on Libraries was established in November, 2004, to advise the Secretary for Home Affairs on strategies and plans for betterment of Hong Kong's public library facilities and services, with enhanced community co-operation and partnership. Its terms of reference and membership are at Annex.
During its two-year tenure, the committee deliberated intensively on a series of areas relating to the provision of public library services in Hong Kong. The committee had also proactively reached out to the various stakeholder groups to seek their views. They also exchanged views with library organisations both overseas and on the Mainland, and explored collaboration opportunities with them on the enhancement of public library services and on the promotion of reading interests and literary arts.
Ends/Friday, May 25, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:58
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