Government announces appointments to Family Council
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    The Government announced today (December 3) the appointment of 16 members to the newly set up Family Council.

     The council will advise the Government on the formulation of policies and strategies for supporting and strengthening the family.  It will enable the adoption of a holistic approach using the family as the core value in the formulation of family support policies.  The Family Council will be chaired by Mr Henry Tang, the Chief Secretary for Administration, and comprises four official members and 16 non-official members.

     "The Family Council plays a strategic role in the setting of family support policies and strategies," a Government spokesman said.

     Coming from different backgrounds, including social welfare, professional, business and academia, the members possess profound knowledge and extensive experience, and will be able to provide invaluable advice to the Government, he added.

     "The establishment of the Family Council marks an important milestone in advocating family as a core social value of the community," the spokesman said.

     The following is the membership list of the Family Council, appointed from December 1, 2007, to March 31, 2009:

Chairman
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Chief Secretary for Administration

Official Members
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Secretary for Education, or his representative
Secretary for Home Affairs, or his representative
Secretary for Labour and Welfare, or his representative
Head, Central Policy Unit, or his representative

Non-official Members
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Ms Chau Chuen-heung
Mr Chow Yung, Robert
Ms Kao Ching-chi, Sophia
Mrs Kwan Ho Shiu-fong, Cecilia
Ms Lai Fung-yee, Angelina
Mr Lee Chung-tak, Joseph
Dr Lee Wai-yung
Dr Leong Che-hung
Mr Leong Kwok-kuen, Lincoln
Mrs Leung Ngai Mou-yin, Justina
Dr Pang King-chee
Prof Shek Tan-lei, Daniel
Ms Tao Chee-ying, Theresa
Dr Wong Chung-kwong
Prof Wong Po-choi
Mr Wong Ying-wai, Wilfred

     The terms of reference of the Family Council are:

(a) To advocate cherishing the family as a main driver of social harmony; and to promote a family-based support network to forge closer and harmonious relationships amongst family members.  

(b) To advise the Government on the formulation of policies and strategies for supporting and strengthening the family and on development of related programmes/activities; and to monitor their implementation.

(c) To advise the Government on the integration of family policies and related programmes across different bureaux and departments for individual age and gender sectors to ensure effective coordination;

(d) To plan/implement programmes and activities for particular age and/or gender sectors; and oversee the work of the Elderly Commission, the Women's Commission and the Commission on Youth.

(d) To initiate research to promote better understanding of matters related to the family as necessary.

Ends/Monday, December 3, 2007
Issued at HKT 19:34

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