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The Government was committed to providing enhanced support to empower families and facilitate the building of more caring social networks, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said today (November 7).
Speaking at the "FAMILY: A Jockey Club Initiative for a Harmonious Society Annual Symposium", Mr Cheung said that the family was a haven of hope and support, a beacon of compassion, a place where one can confide, confess, consult and communicate candidly and openly.
"A problem or broken family, more often than not, breeds social problems like juvenile delinquency, domestic violence, abuse of children and the elderly," he said.
Noting that families of Hong Kong were facing structural changes with some of the traditional core values to uphold family solidarity being eroded, Mr Cheung said the Government would play the role of an enabler to empower families and facilitate the building of more caring social networks.
He said, "The Family Council, chaired by the Chief Secretary, will launch a territory-wide 'Happy Family Campaign' to further promote family core values, and to appeal to the public to build HKSAR families, i.e. Happy, Kind, Supportive, Appreciative and Responsible families, and to foster a culture of loving families.
"The Family Council will co-ordinate and liaise with all relevant stakeholders in setting up a 'Happy Family Info Hub' - a multi-sectoral and interactive support network and platform for exchange of information.
"The provision of family support work spans various bureaus and departments and calls for concerted efforts."
Mr Cheung stressed that tripartite partnership between the government, the private sector and the civil society, charitable bodies such as the Hong Kong Jockey Club was also crucial in taking forward initiatives for happy families and harmonious society.
He commended the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust for conceiving and staging the symposium which he described as "most worthwhile".
"This symposium provides a timely platform to discuss and explore best practices to achieve sustainable efforts to empower families," he concluded.
Ends/Saturday, November 7, 2009
Issued at HKT 10:00
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