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The Financial Secretary, Mr John C Tsang, this afternoon (January 29) visited a school and a wet market in Tai Kok Tsui and met Yau Tsim Mong District Councillors to gain firsthand information on the views and needs of the local community.
Accompanied by the Yau Tsim Mong District Officer, Miss Amy Chow, the Financial Secretary first visited Sir Ellis Kadoorie Secondary School (West Kowloon).
Located on Hoi Fan Road, Sir Ellis Kadoorie Secondary School (West Kowloon) is a government co-educational secondary school with its students coming predominantly from non-Chinese speaking communities. Currently, more than 60% of the students are from ethnic minority groups, mainly Filipinos, Pakistanis, Nepalese and Indians.
Mr Tsang sat in on a class and observed non-Chinese speaking students learning Chinese language. He commended the school management for their efforts in improving the Chinese language standard of the students from different cultural backgrounds. He also chatted with students to better understand how they learnt in a multi-cultural environment.
Mr Tsang then went to the Tai Kok Tsui Market which came into operation in late 2005 with more than 120 stalls selling a wide range of food and other goods.
Mr Tsang chatted with stall operators and listened to their views and needs.
Mr Tsang was also briefed by officers of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department on the market's facilities and daily operations.
He was shown the poultry stalls that are specially designed to minimise direct contact between customers and live poultry so that the risk of avian flu is reduced.
To end his visit, Mr Tsang met the Yau Tsim Mong District Council members to listen to their views on district issues.
Ends/Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:50
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