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Led by the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Patrick Nip, a delegation from the Social Welfare Department today (June 8) concluded its two-day visit to Shanghai, where they visited the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau and various social welfare facilities.
The delegates met with the Director of the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau, Ms Ma Yili, and other officials to exchange views on a wide range of social welfare issues, including social security; welfare services for children, the elderly and persons with disabilities; and the development of the social work profession and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
They also visited the Huangpu District Bansongyuan Road Sub-district Community Service Centre and the Shanghai Children's Welfare Institute to see for themselves the welfare services provided for the local community as well as for orphans and children with disabilities, and later visited a day care centre and a residential care home for the elderly in Yanji.
Mr Nip said, "In January this year, the Chief Executive led a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region delegation to convene the Second Plenary Session of the Hong Kong/Shanghai Economic and Trade Co-operation Conference in Shanghai together with the Mayor and other officials of the Shanghai Municipal Government, during which they reached a consensus on enhancing co-operation between the two places in various areas, including co-operation and exchange of experience on social worker training and social welfare.
"The objective of our visit is to enhance the exchanges between the two places, through which we can keep ourselves abreast of the latest developments of social welfare services in Shanghai and introduce to our counterparts the current situation in Hong Kong. The deepening of mutual understanding has laid a solid foundation for further exchanges and co-operation in the future."
He added, "Both Hong Kong and Shanghai are rapidly growing cities facing similar challenges, such as more complicated family and child care problems as well as the challenges brought about by an ageing population.
"On the social welfare issues which are of concern to both Hong Kong and Shanghai, I believe further exchanges and collaboration between the governments and NGOs are constructive and beneficial to people in the two places."
Those accompanying Mr Nip to visit Shanghai included the Deputy Director (Services), Mrs Anna Mak; the Assistant Director (Elderly), Ms Cecilla Li; and the Assistant Director (Subventions), Mr Lam Ka-tai. The delegation will return by plane to Hong Kong tonight.
Ends/Friday, June 8, 2012
Issued at HKT 17:30
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