DCS chairs 11th meeting of Task Force on District Governance (with photo)
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Mr Cheuk said, "The Task Force has continuously steered departments in implementing the strategies formulated by the Steering Committee, introducing various policies and measures targeting district issues of key public concern and achieving fruitful results. The Task Force will continue to lead departments in addressing people's livelihood concerns through concrete actions, comprehensively enhancing district governance and building a better community. The Task Force will also strengthen the promotion of work achievements to enhance citizens' sense of happiness and fulfillment."
The Steering Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration has formulated strategies for 12 district issues (Note), including various measures to strengthen community support and enhance district facilities, thereby creating a higher-quality living environment for the public. At the meeting, the Task Force followed up on the implementation progress and outcomes of relevant initiatives.
The meeting discussed the achievements of the Care Teams, which completed their first-term services in October 2025. Over the two-year period, Care Teams made around 610 000 visits to elderly households and other households in need, provided around 100 000 instances of basic home or other support services, and organised around 50 000 district-level activities. Their achievements are evident to all. Moreover, Care Teams assisted in emergency and incident responses. In the event of emergencies and incidents in the districts (such as during the Wang Fuk Court Fire in Tai Po, the discovery of wartime bombs in Quarry Bay, Super Typhoon Ragasa, and successive heavy rainstorms affecting Hong Kong), Care Teams swiftly mobilised their members and volunteers to attend to the needs of affected individuals and provide them with adequate assistance. In particular, during the aftermath support for the Wang Fuk Court Fire, more than 1 900 Care Team members and volunteers from all 18 districts across Hong Kong responded promptly to the Government's call and actively participated in emergency assistance. In terms of resources, the Government provided the Care Teams with part of the funding they need, while the operating organisations supported the Care Teams' services through sponsorships, donations, or internal resources of the organisations. The total expenditure for the overall service plan of the first-term Care Teams was $444 million, of which $411 million was covered by Government funding disbursed according to the funding agreements (i.e., 92 per cent), while the remaining expenditure (i.e., 8 per cent) was met by community resources gathered by the Care Teams. Notably, the Government allocated $452 million as funding for the first-term Care Teams, but only 91 per cent of this amount was ultimately utilised, despite services exceeding the key performance indicator requirements that were delivered. This reflects the Care Teams' prudent use of public funds in accordance with guidelines and their effective mobilisation of community resources. To enable the public to better understand the work of the Care Teams' services, the Work Reports of the first-term Care Teams have been released today. Members of the public can visit the Care Teams website (www.had.gov.hk/tc/public_services/district_services_community_care_teams/index.htm) to view the Work Reports of the individual teams.
The meeting also followed up on the progress of 12 district initiatives. In terms of care for the elderly, as at end-January 2026, the Care Teams in all districts had visited or reached out to over 91 000 singleton and doubleton elderly households, carers of elderly persons and persons with disabilities. More than 2 900 households (involving over 3 470 elderly persons or persons with disabilities) were referred by the Care Teams to receive subsidies for installation of emergency alarm systems.
As regards enhancing district facilities, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department is expediting the renovation of public markets and cooked food markets. The stall enhancement works in the Ap Lei Chau Market Cooked Food Centre and the Luen Wo Hui Market Cooked Food Centre will be completed by April and July this year respectively, while the stall enhancement works in the Yue Wan Market Cooked Food Centre are expected to commence in March this year. The Highways Department has selected 14 suitable footpath locations for surface material replacement works, under which the existing paving slabs will be replaced with concrete pavement to enhance durability by minimising problems such as loosening or breakage of paving slabs resulting from load-bearing, compression or heavy usage; the Housing Department has also been carrying out minor improvement works at public housing estates to enhance the environment, and has so far completed external wall repainting works at five estates.
In respect of enhancing the environment, relevant departments plan to complete six beautification projects in 2026, including thematic planting in various park projects and housing development schemes. The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has already completed the planting of flowering trees, such as pink trumpet trees and silk floss trees, along the main pedestrian pathways at Sha Tin Park and Che Kung Miu Road Playground in January this year, bringing vibrant colours to the community.
Mr Cheuk thanked all departments for their dedicated efforts in advancing the above work and achieving notable results. He encouraged all departments to continue their efforts in the new year and to respond to public expectations through more solid and effective work, tangibly enhancing the quality of life and well-being of the public.
Note: The 12 key issues are: (1) expanding after-school care 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; (10) combating air-conditioner water dripping to improve community environment; (11) cleaning pedestrian walkways to improve city streets; and (12) strengthening thematic planting.
Ends/Tuesday, February 24, 2026
Issued at HKT 18:20
Issued at HKT 18:20
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