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The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Frederick Ma, visited Wong Tai Sin today (November 30) to look at the application of information technology (IT) in schools and social enterprises in the district.
Mr Ma, accompanied by the District Officer (Wong Tai Sin), Mrs Teresa Wong, first visited St Bonaventure College and High School in Tse Wan Shan.
St Bonaventure College and High School, one of the leading schools in IT application, was the first school in Hong Kong to set up a "distant classroom" for educational exchanges between its students and outside parties through video conferences. Through audio-visual communication, its students have maintained regular exchanges with students in Mainland cities including Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing.
During today's visit, Mr Ma joined St Bonaventure students in a "distant class", linking up with students of a Shanghai school, for a firsthand experience of IT application in education and to share their fun of a new learning experience. He also spoke to the entire student body through a direct broadcast by the school's own "tv station".
"I'm impressed by the effective use of information technology by the school to broaden students' perspectives and enhance their competitiveness in the future," Mr Ma said. He encouraged the students to keep up with the learning and application of IT knowledge in order to equip themselves for the challenges of a technology-based economy and society as well as to build Hong Kong into Asia¡¦s IT hub and a creative capital.
Mr Ma then visited two social enterprises, First Sense Design and the Flower Workshop, operated by the Hong Kong Federation of Handicapped Youth in Wang Tau Hom. The two social enterprises are self-financing, providing floral arrangements, design, printing and related services.
Mr Ma was delighted to note that members with different degrees of disabilities were good at applying computer technology and that their products were competitive in the open market.
"I am glad to see that the two social enterprises have greatly enhanced members' self-confidence, social network, job skills and employment opportunities," he said.
During the district visit, Mr Ma also met representatives from the Wong Tai Sin Industry and Commerce Association in San Po Kong. The association has actively participated in community services and sponsored activities such as employment schemes for the rehabilitated, civic education programmes, and occupational safety and other charity functions in the district.
Mr Ma commended the association for its good work in caring about the community. He encouraged members to continue to put their resources, experience and expertise to good use in helping the needy as a way of fulfilling their corporate social responsibility.
Before ending his visit, he paid a special visit to Tze Ching Estate in Tze Wan Shan to inspect the progress of the Housing Department's plan to upgrade the cable distribution system to prepare its tenants for digital terrestrial television broadcasting.
Ends/Friday, November 30, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:50
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