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The Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, took time out this afternoon (August 19) to visit the Tai Po District to understand more about the residents' everyday concerns and services for the elderly.
He visited the Four Lanes at Tai Po Market, a leisure shopping and dining square bounded by Kwong Fuk Lane, Tai Wing Lane, Tai Kwong Lane and Tai Ming Lane with a garden at the centre.
He chatted with shop owners about their businesses, visiting a variety of shops around the square, including a handbag shop, a herbal shop, a clothing shop, a furniture shop, a jade jewellery shop and some fruit stalls.
Tai Po District Officer, Mr Charles Chan Kwai-chun, briefed Mr Tung on environmental improvement work undertaken by the Highways Department and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department at the Four Lanes, which has made it a pleasant place for citizens and shoppers.
Mr Tung then visited the nearby Salvation Army Tai Po Multi-Service Centre for Senior Citizens, where support and development services help about 2,000 senior citizens to raise the quality of their lives.
He joined the senior citizens in a singing session during afternoon tea and watched as some joined in a handicraft class and a digital camera class.
Mr Tung exchanged views with social workers at the centre on how to help the elderly have active and healthy lives and to continue to contribute to their families and the community.
Discussing the latest economic situation with the social workers, Mr Tung pointed out that total employment had risen to a record high of 3.288 million in May - July this year with 98,900 new jobs created from a year earlier as the economy progressively recovered from the economic downturn and the impact of SARS.
"Although the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate remained stable at 6.9% in May - July this year, we have to do more to bring it down further in the months ahead," he said.
Expenditure on elderly services in this financial year amounts to $3.4 billion, double the expenditure of $1.7 billion in 1997/98. A range of residential care services as well as home and community support services is provided to the elderly.
Ends/Thursday, August 19, 2004
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