The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, visited the Marycove Center of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd (SGS) and two underprivileged elderly families this morning (January 28).
      
     Established in 1968, the Marycove Center is a residential home subvented by the Social Welfare Department. With a residential quota of 90, it caters for girls aged from 12 to 18 in need. The Marycove School was set up under the Center in the same year and is subvented by the Education Bureau. It was classified as a school for social development in July 1997.
      
     Accompanied by the District Social Welfare Officer (Central Western, Southern and Islands), Mr Lam Ding-fung, Mr Cheung first visited the Marycove Center in Wong Chuk Hang. He was given a briefing on the services provided by the Center by SGS's Director, Sister Bernadette Yuen; Center's Superintendent, Ms Eliza Poon; and the Marycove School's Principal, Mr Joseph Choy.
      
     He then toured the school and the Center's residential facilities. After being shown around by residents, he joined them for a tea session and music performance. Mr Cheung praised the girls for their outstanding performance. He also spoke highly of the professional services offered by staff of the Center and encouraged them to continue supporting the girls, preparing them for integration into society and enabling them to unleash their potential in full.
      
     Mr Cheung then proceeded to visit two elderly families at Yue Kwong Chuen in Aberdeen to find out more about their daily living and brought them warm clothing and health products as gifts. He wished them happiness and good health in the year ahead. 
      
     He said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is committed to improving people's livelihood and actively promoting the policy of according priority to the provision of home care and community care, supplemented by residential care, so that the elderly can enjoy their life in environments familiar to them.

Ends/Monday, January 28, 2019
Issued at HKT 14:55

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