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The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Frederick Ma, visited Kowloon City District today (October 18) to see the latest development there.
Accompanied by the District Officer (Kowloon City), Miss Agnes Wong, Mr Ma first visited the Kowloon Walled City Park, a key historic site and tourist spot in the district. Touring around two historical monuments in the park -- the Yamen and Old South Gate, Mr Ma found them a successful blend of modern park design with heritage conservation. He was delighted to learn that there were free guided tours for park visitors to enhance their appreciation of the various features.
Taking a stroll through the district's busiest centre, Mr Ma visited shops along Hau Wong Road and Lion Rock Road and chatted with the shop owners. He found that shops in the district, ranging from half-century old grocery stalls to specialised shops selling food from around the world, all had their own distinguished features. This, together with scores of restaurants in the district, made the area an attraction for residents from other districts and tourists alike.
He then proceeded to the Jockey Club Farm Road Youth SPOT, a youth centre set up by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups (HKFYG). He was pleased to learn that the centre not only provided diversified learning programmes for youngsters in the district, but was also committed to nurturing them into confident and self-disciplined individuals.
Mr Ma was shown around the facilities at the centre, including the new Learning through Engineering Art and Design (LEAD) Centre, a project supported by the Innovation and Technology Commission. He was impressed by HKFYG's efforts in promoting the LEAD programme in various districts. He believed that by offering interactive and playful learning environment, the LEAD programme could help teenagers give a full play to their creativity. He pointed out that creativity education had to start from an early stage in order to nurture talents to build Hong Kong into a creative capital.
Mr Ma chatted with a group of teenagers who were attending a regular group session of the Youth Pre-Employment Training Programme at the centre and encouraged them to strive for self-enhancement. He then joined a group of secondary school students in a workshop on the Policy Address to discuss policy initiatives relating to economic development and environmental protection. Mr Ma also visited a group of elderly who were attending a computer literacy class at the centre.
Before concluding his visit, Mr Ma met representatives from the Kowloon City Industry and Commerce Association and listened to their views on various issues.
Ends/Thursday, October 18, 2007
Issued at HKT 17:54
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