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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, on child care services and domestic violence after the cocktail reception to celebrate International Women's Day today (March 8):
Reporter: Mr Cheung, what does the Government plan to do to enhance child care in Hong Kong? And secondly, there has been an increasing number of domestic violence cases against women, but there are no Government-funded women shelters. So, what kind of measures ...
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: First of all, on child care, we are going ahead with a major programme in boosting the number of child care places. In fact, for the first programme coming on stream, we will increase the number of extended hours service places from the current 1 200 to 6 200, a fourfold increase in the next few years and a substantial increase. And also, we will be encouraging private corporations to provide on-site child care places for their own staff. And in fact, there are three private corporations already doing it now, and we are encouraging more to follow suit. And, at the same time, the Government will lead by example. We will have a major Government Complex coming up in Tseung Kwan O by the year 2022. It will provide working space for over 13 000 Government employees, when including the future Immigration Headquarters which will be relocated from Wan Chai to Tseung Kwan O. Now, we are examining the feasibility of providing on-site child care places for government employees working there. So, we are moving ahead. At the same time, we will launch a pilot programme to train grandparents in the latest technique in child care. The whole objective is to really unleash the potential of working women.
On the question of domestic violence, we attach great importance in protecting women against domestic violence. So we will take every measure possible to protect them. Anyone who is aggrieved, or who needs support can contact the Social Welfare Department's hotline. We will make sure that they get sheltered at appropriate places.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Sunday, March 8, 2015
Issued at HKT 14:28
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