Transcript of remarks of press conference on the Strive and Rise Programme launched by the Task Force to Lift Underprivileged Students out of Intergenerational Poverty (with photos/video)
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Reporter: Hello, some critics have been questioning in the perspective of the use of public money. Would it be more effective for the CS (Chief Secretary for Administration) to have a full review of the anti-poverty policy instead of making efforts to co-ordinate a mentorship programme for 2 000 students? Would you consider delegating the co-ordination work to the departments or the NGOs? And in the long run, do you have a roadmap in mind how the issue of cross-generational poverty would be tackled? Thanks.
Chief Secretary for Administration: Thank you for the question. I think it is very important that, in the Chief Executive's Manifesto, he suggested that we should tackle the cross-generational poverty issue for those junior students living in subdivided units, so this is our target. We think that after discussing with some scholars and after referring to some surveys, we know that our programme will suit the need of the students and will help them to achieve their life goals.
And we think that by doing so, we will enrich their personal experience and their understanding of Hong Kong, and also the details of other areas and occupations. I think that is very important. I believe that this will help them to achieve their own life goals. In fact, this is not public money, I repeat, we will receive donations from some big companies and commercial sectors. We trust that, after one year, these students will surely know better about themselves. And then they will also be able to set up their own life goals and they will know how to achieve their goals.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: Thank you, CS. Clearly this project is a targeted approach to deal with a very specific problem. At the same time, the CS is also leading the Government in tackling poverty from different angles. We should see this project as a demonstration of how to deal with poverty problem in a very targeted approach. So coming forward, I am sure the CS will lead the whole Government to deal with poverty problem in a very specific way. Later on clearly, once we have formulated a more targeted approach to deal with poverty problem, we will find a suitable time to share with the public. Thank you.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Monday, August 22, 2022
Issued at HKT 21:05
Issued at HKT 21:05
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