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The Secretary for Education, Mr Eddie Ng Hak-kim, today (October 27) visited Tuen Mun District. He was pleased to learn that, with the concerted efforts of the Government and the local community, the living environment of the residents has been improved and the care and development opportunities for young people have been enhanced.
Accompanied by the District Officer (Tuen Mun), Mr David Lau, Mr Ng went to the Castle Peak Bay Waterfront Promenade to view the results of landscaping and improvement works there.
The waterfront promenade, adjacent to Sam Shing Estate, was built on the breakwater of the Tuen Mun Typhoon Shelter, which was originally a piece of government land closed to visitors. With the allocation of $19 million by the Tuen Mun District Council, the improvement project, including resurfacing works and the addition of railings, benches and lamps, was completed in recent months. Members of the public can now enjoy the newly opened 850-metre-long waterfront promenade, with a gross site area of 7,900 square metres, for leisure activities.
In addition, the Government is carrying out greening work, with planting of trees, which is expected to be completed next month. Mr Ng noted that other improvement works are being carried out for the well-being of local residents, including the revitalisation of the Tuen Mun River under the Signature Project Scheme and a new footbridge over the Tuen Mun River.
Mr Ng also visited the Maritime Services Training Institute (MSTI) in Tai Lam Chung to learn more about its full-time pre-service training courses for young people as well as daytime and evening modular courses for new recruits, serving seamen and maritime practitioners. Mr Ng observed class activities and received a briefing on the MSTI's training facilities. He was also invited to join its learners in operating a sailing simulator.
Besides learning, healthy personal growth is also very important to young people. Mr Ng visited the Tuen Mun Integrated Youth Service Centre operated by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong to chat with young people and to listen to parents discuss their needs.
Mr Ng said that the tripartite co-operation among the Government, the business sector and the public is crucial for the betterment of the community. On the education front, the Education Bureau (EDB) introduced life planning education last year to help senior secondary students identify early their potential and areas of interest as well as their future plans for further studies and career development.
He added that the EDB has strengthened the Business-School Partnership Programme (BSPP) in parallel to promote the partnership between corporates and schools. Through their various activities, students would have a better understanding of different industries and prepare themselves for further studies and employment in the future. In the 2015/16 school year, the number of business partners for the BSPP has risen to 135 and about 255,000 students will participate in some 800 activities.
Ends/Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:42
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