The Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, visited a vocational institution and a creative arts venue during his visit to Sham Shui Po District this afternoon (April 13). He also met with members of Sham Shui Po District Council to exchange views on various issues.
 
     Mr Lau first toured the facilities of the Institute of Vocational Education (Haking Wong) and chatted with students about their learning. The institute is equipped with workshops and laboratories which simulate the real-life working environments of various industries, including the Wine and Beverage Lab, the Retail Lab and the Electrical Power and Drives Laboratory. The campus' interactive teaching and learning environment enables students from different disciplines to gain practical training experiences.
 
     Mr Lau then visited the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre (JCCAC), where he was briefed on the operation of the arts centre while going on a tour of its arts exhibition and arts studios. Opened in 2008, the JCCAC is situated in a revitalised industrial building and serves as an operation base for artists and organisations of various art forms. The JCCAC contributes to the nurturing of arts talents and supports artists' career development by providing arts studios and display venues for their use. In promoting arts and culture, the JCCAC also houses a black box theatre, a tea house and craft shops which help create an artistic and creative environment for the public to participate in and enjoy.
 
     Before concluding the visit, Mr Lau exchanged views with members of Sham Shui Po District Council on various issues including the abolition of the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) "offsetting" mechanism, the establishment of the eMPF (a centralised electronic platform which will enhance the administrative efficiency of the MPF schemes), the opening of bank accounts and life annuity schemes.

Ends/Friday, April 13, 2018
Issued at HKT 19:33

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