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The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:
The Legislative Council Subcommittee on Poverty Alleviation continued its duty visit in Seoul today (July 24) to obtain first-hand information on the poverty alleviation strategies and measures put in place to help the disadvantaged groups.
The delegation visited the Beautiful Store Foundation and received a briefing on its operation and activities. They paid a visit to the Beautiful Store, which is a non-governmental organisation helping the needy with its profits earned through collecting, repairing and selling used items donated by citizens, to understand their experiences in running social enterprise. Members of the delegation then met with the officials of Ministry for Health, Welfare and Family Affairs and received a briefing on poverty alleviation policy.
Chairman of the Legislative Council Subcommittee on Poverty Alleviation, Mr Federick Fung Kin-kee, described the duty visit as very useful in enabling Members to better understand the anti-poverty strategies and the development and operation of social enterprise in Taiwan and Republic of Korea. ¡§The experience of the visit has provided useful reference for Hong Kong. The delegation is impressed by the strong commitment of the governments and local organisations in both places to tackle the poverty problem,¡¨ he added.
The delegation will visit Noridan tomorrow morning to understand the measures taken by the youth activity and training centre in addressing the youth unemployment problem. They will then conclude the seven-day duty visit to Taiwan and Republic of Korea and depart for Hong Kong in the evening.
Ends/Friday, July 24, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:21
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