Steering Committee on District Governance convenes sixth meeting (with photo)
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Mr Chan said, "Since their establishment, the Steering Committee and the Task Force on District Governance have adhered to people-oriented principles, and have actively responded to people's livelihood concerns by formulating and implementing a series of clearly targeted, pragmatic and forward-looking policy measures to create a better community environment and enhance people's well-being. In the new year, the Steering Committee will continue to steer bureaux and departments to perform their duties with responsibility and determination, and ensure each people-oriented initiative is fully and effectively implemented."
At the meeting, the Steering Committee followed up on the work progress of 12 district issues of public concern (Note) identified at previous meetings, and provided directives to relevant bureaux and departments in a wide range of areas covering support for children and the elderly, community facilities, and environmental hygiene improvements, all aimed at enhancing people’s quality of life.
In terms of support for parents, 202 primary schools with more than 9 600 students have participated in the School-based After School Care Service Scheme (the Scheme). Participating parents generally recognised that the Scheme has helped support their employment and childcare needs. The Government will continue to encourage more schools to join the Scheme, providing better support for families in need of care services.
As regards care for the elderly, in order to promote digital inclusion, the Digital Policy Office (DPO) has launched the "Smart Silver" Digital Inclusion Programme for Elders (the Programme) since December 2024, providing funding support to 12 district organisations to set up 40 community-based help desks across all 18 districts. These help desks provide training on digital technologies and technical support for elderly people aged 60 or above, particularly singleton or doubleton elders living in old districts and public housing. From launch to December last year, the Programme has already served over 100 000 elderly people. The DPO will continue to assist elderly people in learning about and using smartphones and other digital communication technologies through the Programme, thereby helping them integrate into the community.
In terms of environmental hygiene, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) continues to carry out rodent control actions in 93 major rodent black spots, and has achieved the target of reducing the number of black spots by 60 percent before the end of 2025. The FEHD will continue the efforts to foster clean markets and improve the community environment through publicity and education, enforcement actions and enhanced daily cleaning. In regard to combating water dripping from air-conditioners in buildings, the FEHD will build on the experience gained last summer to study the application of AI image recognition technology to automatically detect dripping sources, and will strengthen collaboration with the property management sector to tackle the problem of dripping air conditioners and improve the living environment for the public.
In accordance with the overall strategies set by the Steering Committee on District Governance, the Task Force on District Governance, chaired by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, will continue to co-ordinate bureaux and departments in taking forward the various district initiatives to raise people’s standard of living with concrete results and enhance their sense of achievement, satisfaction and security.
Note: The 12 district issues are (1) expanding after-school care services and enhancing support for parents; (2) caring for the elderly and enhancing community support; (3) fostering clean markets and mobilising the community to participate in anti-rodent work; (4) enhancing public order and combating crimes on all fronts; (5) improving pedestrian facilities and ensuring road safety; (6) enhancing the community environment and strengthening local characteristics; (7) improving the environment of public housing estates and creating comfortable homes; (8) caring for the elderly and promoting digital inclusion; (9) improving the waiting environment at public transport interchanges to enhance the travel experience of people; (10) combating water dripping from air-conditioners in buildings to improve the community environment; (11) cleaning pedestrian walkways to improve the cityscape; and (12) strengthening thematic plantings.
Ends/Thursday, January 22, 2026
Issued at HKT 19:35
Issued at HKT 19:35
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