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SLW visits Sham Shui Po District (with photos)
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     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, today (January 4) visited Sham Shui Po District, where he toured a youth hostel and a music education body and met with District Council members.

     Accompanied by the Chairman of the Sham Shui Po District Council (SSPDC), Mr Ambrose Cheung, and the District Officer (Sham Shui Po), Mr Damian Lee, Dr Law visited YHA Mei Ho House Youth Hostel. The revitalised Mei Ho House invited past residents to contribute to exhibitions about the building and has introduced life in old estates to students through teaching materials and guided tours. Dr Law said he appreciated that students could learn more about the essence of neighbourhood with a deeper understanding of social capital from these activities.

     He then proceeded to the Music Children Foundation, an organisation receiving a grant in the First Round Application of the Dedicated Portion of the Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged (PFD) for implementing after-school learning and support programmes. The Foundation had provided free music training for underprivileged children since April 2016 with both its business partner's sponsorship and the Government's matching grant. Concerts have been held to boost participants' confidence during performance.

     Dr Law said he was glad to note that, upon completion of the above project supported by the PFD's Dedicated Portion in March 2018, the Foundation obtained sponsorship from other charitable organisations to extend the project to other districts across the territory, achieving the goal of promoting partnership among the welfare sector, business corporations and the Government to help the disadvantaged.

     The Social Welfare Department is inviting a new round of applications for the PFD. Its Regular Portion has so far approved grants of over $437 million for 923 welfare projects covering more than 1 million disadvantaged persons, while its Dedicated Portion has approved about $180 million in grants for 239 after-school learning and support projects benefiting more than 100 000 primary and secondary school students.

     Prior to the visits, Dr Law went to the SSPDC to exchange views with SSPDC members on labour and welfare issues as well as matters of local concern.
 
Ends/Friday, January 4, 2019
Issued at HKT 19:10
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