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Following is a speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Donald Tsang, at the "Family Carnival" in Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Social Welfare Department today (Sunday):

Fellow colleagues, distinguished guests, children,

I am glad to be here today to spend an enjoyable Sunday with wards of the Director of Social Welfare, and to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Social Welfare Department with more than a thousand members of their staff and families.

The family is the basic unit of society. A caring family is the fundamental source of support and sense of security for the individual. As such, the Social Welfare Department has made "Care and Share" the main theme of its 40th Anniversary Celebration. Through various services and activities, it aims to promote a proper sense of responsibility to the family and society and attitudes among the public, and to preserve and strengthen the function of the family, making Hong Kong a city that cares and shares.

We all know that "it takes ten years to grow a tree but a hundred years to rear a person". Much more love and patience is needed in cultivating people than plants. A seedling has to weather storms before it grows into a tree. The 21st century is approaching. In order to make our children future pillars of society, and to develop a caring community, we need tremendous love, determination and perseverance to meet the greater and tougher challenges ahead. The moment I set foot here, I saw magic. I saw how the staff of the Social Welfare Department made concerted efforts in transforming this ordinary country park into such a colourful carnival, bringing the joy and warmth of a family to everybody here. I am confident that, with their dedication and enthusiasm, they will give the children under their shelter great love and care, just as the slogan of this activity proclaims: "nurse the buds with love and care". They certainly set a good example of healthy family life.

I sincerely hope that fellow colleagues of the Social Welfare Department will continue to uphold the spirit of "care and share" in serving the community tomorrow, just as you do today, and work for the well-being of our next generation as well as the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong.

I wish you all every happiness and hope you would enjoy this exciting and fun-filled carnival.

Thank You.

End/Sunday, April 19, 1998

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