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The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, visited the Po Leung Kuk Headquarters today (December 21) to see for himself its residential child care services. Amid a joyful and festive atmosphere, Mr Cheung also celebrated Christmas early with the children there.
The Po Leung Kuk's residential child care services provide a safe and healthy environment for children who are abandoned, abused or unable to receive proper care for reasons such as illness or divorce of their parents.
Accompanied by the Chairman of the Po Leung Kuk, Mrs Dorothy Pong, Mr Cheung toured various residential child care service units including residential crèches, nurseries and a children's home. He was briefed on the urgent services of the children's reception centre, known as the Newcomers' Ward.
To enhance support for children and youngsters who temporarily cannot receive proper care from their families, Mr Cheung said that the Government would increase in phases the number of places for residential child care services, including foster care, small group homes and children's homes. The foster care allowance, covering both the incentive payment for foster parents and the maintenance grant for foster children, will be raised at the same time.
Noting that the Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project (NSCCP) has proved effective in providing a more flexible form of child care service through the promotion of mutual help in the community, Mr Cheung added that the Social Welfare Department regularised the Project in October 2011 and extended the service coverage to all 18 districts to benefit more needy families. The Po Leung Kuk has also been providing the NSCCP service in North District since then.
Mr Cheung warmly paid tribute to the Po Leung Kuk for its unceasing and sterling efforts in providing support to needy children over the years. Apart from the comprehensive care services, psychological counselling is also provided to help the children build self-esteem and self-confidence.
Mr Cheung happily watched some kindergarten children sing Christmas carols and played games with them. He gave them some little Christmas gifts of cookies and stationary, which were products of social enterprises.
Ends/Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Issued at HKT 19:49
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