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The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, visited Tai Po today (January 21) to see the latest developments in the district and speak with the local community.
As part of the programme, he paid a special visit to an elderly centre, which provides a wide range of day care and home support services. He also took the chance to extend early Lunar New Year greetings to the elders there and presented them with gift packs.
The Centre - "The Salvation Army Tai Po Integrated Home Care Service cum Day Care Centre for Senior Citizens", provides over 60 subsidised day care service places to elderly people in the district.
Mr Cheung was briefed by the centre management on the operation of their Home Care Service Teams in the provision of home care, meals delivery and other supporting services to elderly people in the district.
He also inspected the Centre's modern kitchen facilities where meals are prepared for delivery by the home care teams, as well as the sensory facilities to help those elderly with severe disabilities such as dementia.
He was pleased to learn that the Centre is dedicated to promoting a sense of worthiness and enriching the lifestyle among elders through a variety of activities and volunteer services. He observed the dim sum and calligraphy classes in session and had a warm exchange with some elderly volunteers on their feelings in serving the community.
Mr Cheung noted that in view of the ageing population, the Government has in recent years devoted more resources to enhancing facilities and services under the "ageing in place" policy in order to enable the elderly to lead an easier, happier and healthier life at home.
"We have a series of measures in place. These include a continuous increase in the supply of subsidised day care and home care places for the elderly, and a three-year pilot scheme on home care services commencing in March to strengthen the services for frail elders," Mr Cheung said.
He then took a walk at the Four Lanes in Tai Po to observe the business operation of the shops in the run-up to the Chinese New Year. He visited a noodle shop where he chatted with the female manager and tasted the shop's signature snacks. He also took the chance to talk with her about the statutory minimum wage, which will take effect on May 1.
To round off the visit, Mr Cheung had a tea-gathering with Tai Po District Council members, at which they exchanged views on a wide range of subjects of local community concern.
Ends/Friday, January 21, 2011
Issued at HKT 16:46
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