Government promotes arts for persons with disabilities
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    The Government is committed to helping persons with disabilities to develop their artistic potential and seek more performance opportunities through the provision of a barrier-free environment, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said tonight (January 26).

     Speaking at the Jockey Club Arts for the Disabled Scheme annual performance, Mr Cheung said, ˇ§Involving persons with disabilities in arts and cultural activities is an effective way to help them integrate into society.ˇ¨

     The scheme is a pilot project for nurturing persons with disabilities in the arts and cultural fields. It offers them basic artistic training and provides performance and exhibition opportunities to develop their talent and creativity. Their involvement also enriches the cultural life of Hong Kong.

     "The annual performance gives the trainees the opportunity to showcase their skills, demonstrating how persons with disabilities in different age groups and with different talents can overcome their physical constraints to perform in various programmes. It is also a chance for us to appreciate the meaning of an inclusive society while we enjoy the performance tonight,ˇ¨ said Mr Cheung.

     The theme of the performance this year, One World?One Dream, underlines the notion  that different races share the same passion and dream in the world of arts.

     The Arts for the Disabled Scheme, subsidised by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and administered by the Labour and Welfare Bureau, has offered arts training programmes to more than 6,000 students in special schools and more than 1,000 persons with disabilities each year since its inception in 2003.

Ends/Saturday, January 26, 2008
Issued at HKT 19:45

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