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The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang, visited two social welfare facilities and a construction industry training centre in Tin Shui Wai today (August 12) to keep abreast of psychiatric rehabilitation and child care services at the district level and manpower training for Hong Kong's construction industry.
Mr Tsang started his visit at the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association Wellness Centre in Tin Chak Estate which provides one-stop social rehabilitation services to mental patients discharged from hospital or persons with suspected mental health problems and their family members.
He watched users engaging in various training activities, including production of small boxes, tending pot plants, wireworks and beadworks.
The centre staff briefed Mr Tsang on their integrated services, ranging from counselling and therapy to day training and community activities, and when necessary, referrals to the psychiatric services under the Hospital Authority's network.
The Chief Executive exchanged views with users and their families on the integration of psychiatric patients discharged into the community.
Commissioned in March 2009, the centre is the first of its kind to provide community support to persons with or suspected to have mental illness and their families. Up to the end of July 2010, the centre had handled about 480 cases, provided 4,800 outreach services and organised 42 community education events which served more than 4,900 participants.
The Chief Executive said he was glad to learn that the one-stop services model enabled users to obtain the required services within a shorter timeframe. He noted that these integrated services would be expanded to all 18 districts, for the benefit of patients, their families and their carers.
"It is important that mental patients and their families be provided with efficient services during their rehabilitation and integration into the community. I'm pleased to learn of the services provided by the New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association Wellness Centre. Yet I understand that provision of this kind of integrated services centre in other areas has met with some local opposition, probably due to misunderstanding. Their operation won't have any adverse impact on the neighbourhood. Instead, they will strengthen community relations. I earnestly appeal to every district to support these worthwhile projects," Mr Tsang said.
Mr Tsang then visited a neighbourhood support child care project (NSCCP) run by the Hong Kong Tin Shui Wai Women Association in Tin Yuet Estate.
Launched in October 2008, the three-year NSCCP pilot project aims to provide parents with more flexible child care services in addition to the regular ones and at the same time promoting community participation and mutual assistance in the neighbourhood.
Child carers at the Tin Yuet facility shared with Mr Tsang their work experiences and how families had benefited from the project.
Under the project, volunteers in the neighbourhood are recruited as carers to take care of children at the carers' homes or at centres run by the service operators.
Mr Tsang noted that a total of 11 projects were now launched across the territory and the feedback from both service users and operators had been very positive.
"I'm delighted that the project has proved a successful model for flexible child care service. Besides helping parents in need, it promotes mutual assistance in the neighbourhood and strengthens community support," he said.
The last stop of the visit was the Construction Industry Council Training Centre at Tin Shui Wai Area 112. Commissioned last September, the training centre aims to encourage people in the North West New Territories to join the construction industry by making it convenient for them to participate in the training courses.
The Chief Executive was briefed on the operation of the training centre. He also met trainees in different courses.
The centre runs adult short courses in bricklaying, plastering and tiling, painting, plumbing and pipe-fitting, bar bending and fixing as well as metal scaffolding. It also provides basic safety training courses.
Mr Tsang encouraged the trainees to join the construction industry after finishing the courses.
"With the commencement of a number of major infrastructure projects in Hong Kong, construction manpower demand will rise in the coming years, providing our young people with plenty of opportunities," he said.
Ends/Thursday, August 12, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:02
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