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The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, visited Kowloon City this afternoon (May 9).
He visited a primary school and local social service units to see at first hand the services available to the young and the old as well as ethnic minorities. He also met members of the Kowloon City District Council to understand matters of local concern.
Accompanied by the District Officer (Kowloon City), Mr William Tsui, Mr Cheung first visited the upper primary section of Po Leung Kuk Lam Man Chan English Primary School at Sheung Heung Road. He was briefed by the school principal, Ms Man Sze-wing, on the school facilities and characteristics of the school curriculum.
Mr Cheung learned that the students of the primary school are multinational. Of the 600-plus student body in this academic year, about 45 per cent are non-Chinese-speaking and cover more than 20 different nationalities including Indian, Nepalese, British, Pakistani and Filipino. The school teaches Chinese in Putonghua and other subjects in English. Mr Cheung observed a Chinese class conducted in Putonghua. He also saw a demonstration of Chinese calligraphy by some Filipino students and a performance by the school roller-skating team.
In a chat with the students, Mr Cheung was pleased to know that they get along well with each other. By promoting multiculturalism and actively assisting non-Chinese students to integrate into the Hong Kong community, the school has enabled its students to learn the customs and cultures of various countries and broadened their horizons. This, in turn, has promoted racial harmony and social inclusiveness in the community, Mr Cheung noted.
Mr Cheung then visited the Sheng Kung Hui Holy Carpenter Church, where its Service Director, Mr Shum Wai-chuen, introduced the various services provided by its social service units.
Mr Cheung commended the Church for keeping pace with the changing needs of the community by providing appropriate services to local residents in the past six decades. He also thanked the Church for its unfailing support and co-operation on emergency relief work in the past, in particular by opening its premises to accommodate victims. Mr Cheung toured the Community Centre and District Elderly Community Centre of the Church and talked to trainees of a retraining class, volunteers involved in community services and the elderly participants.
Mr Cheung welcomed the enthusiastic promotion of active ageing by the District Elderly Community Centre and its efforts in providing outreaching support and elderly care services. He pointed out that in view of Hong Kong's ageing population, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been taking a multi-pronged strategy in promoting service diversity and providing appropriate services to meet the different needs of the elderly.
In the final leg of his district visit, Mr Cheung met with the Chairman of the Kowloon City District Council, Mr Lau Wai-wing, and other District Council members to hear their views on local needs and concerns and exchange opinions on various labour and welfare issues.
Ends/Friday, May 9, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:22
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