**************************************************
The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Clement Cheung, visited the Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (September 21) to learn more about the work of the department and to take the opportunity to meet its staff.
Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Thomas Chow, Mr Cheung first met with the Director of Social Welfare, Ms Carol Yip, and the directorate staff. He was pleased to learn that the SWD is committed to upholding a "people-oriented" approach, striving to provide members of the public with a wide range of welfare services.
Mr Cheung then met with the representatives of the Departmental Consultative Committee and staff unions to exchange views on issues of concern and to learn more about the challenges that frontline staff face when they perform their duties.
Later, Mr Cheung visited the Chai Wan Social Security Field Unit (CWSSFU) to gain a better understanding of its operations. Mr Cheung was briefed on how the CWSSFU administers the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme and the Social Security Allowance Scheme, and provides Emergency Relief services in the district to cater for the basic and special needs of members of the community.
Before concluding his visit, Mr Cheung visited the Chai Wan (West) Integrated Family Service Centre, which is co-located with the CWSSFU and a Maternal and Child Health Centre in the same building to provide a one-stop service for shared customers and early identification of needy customers. Mr Cheung was briefed on a series of preventive, supportive and remedial family services that the Centre provides under the principle of "child-centred, family-focused and community-based". He also talked to some of the staff members who outlined their experiences in delivering integrated family services. Mr Cheung encouraged the staff members to continue to provide high-quality, efficient and professional services to the public to meet the different needs of the community.
Ends/Monday, September 21, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:55
NNNN