The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, visited and distributed gift packs to three elderly households and families in need in Sham Shui Po District today (May 20), signifying the commencement of home visits in all districts under the "Celebrations for All" project.

     The project is one of the major events to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Co-ordinated by the Home Affairs Department and implemented by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the 18 districts, the project consists of three components, namely home visits, facilitating participation of the less privileged in territory-wide celebratory activities, and district celebration events.

     On home visits, volunteers from participating NGOs will visit a total of around 300 000 households of elderly people and families in need and present them with free gift packs (fortune bags), sharing the joy of the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland. Senior government officials will also join the home visits to show their care so as to extend the joyous atmosphere to the whole community.

     Speaking at the launch ceremony, Mr Cheung said that the project aims to share the joy of the 20th anniversary with the less privileged, extending warmest wishes to them and promoting the important messages of unity, inclusiveness and care, thereby building a caring and inclusive society. Mr Cheung added that he frequently visited Sham Shui Po District when he was responsible for labour and welfare policies in the past, and it makes launching the home visits in Sham Shui Po particularly meaningful. He expressed his heartfelt thanks to over 100 volunteers who joined the activity today. The volunteer teams are formed by NGOs in Sham Shui Po District and the Sham Shui Po Police District.

     After the launch ceremony, the government officials started home visits with various volunteer teams. Mr Cheung visited three elderly and grass-roots families in Fu Cheong Estate and Wing Cheong Estate and took the opportunity to learn more about their living conditions and needs. He also presented to them organic vegetables personally grown by the Chief Executive, Mr C Y Leung, as well as gift packs to share the joy of the 20th anniversary. 

     Other officiating guests at the launch ceremony included the Director of Administration, Ms Kitty Choi; the Director of Home Affairs, Miss Janice Tse; the Head of the Efficiency Unit, Mr Kim Salkeld; the Head of the Policy and Project Co-ordination Unit of the Chief Secretary for Administration's Private Office, Ms Doris Ho; the Chairman of the Sham Shui Po District Council, Mr Ambrose Cheung; the District Officer (Sham Shui Po), Mr Damian Lee; and the District Social Welfare Officer (Sham Shui Po) of the Social Welfare Department, Ms Wendy Chau. After the launch ceremony, they conducted home visits with various volunteer groups to show compassion and care to the families.

     Other senior government officials will also participate in home visits. The Secretary for Development, Mr Eric Ma, will visit families in Kwai Tsing District on May 22 (Monday).

     Apart from participating in the home visits, NGOs joining the "Celebrations for All" project will also provide transportation and meals to more than 100 000 elderly and less privileged people to facilitate their participation in territory-wide 20th anniversary celebratory activities, while assistance will also be offered to 120 000 less privileged people to take part in district celebration events.

Ends/Saturday, May 20, 2017
Issued at HKT 13:10

NNNN