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Symposium for social welfare sector focuses on strengthening awareness of safeguarding national security (with photos)
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     A symposium on safeguarding national security for the social welfare sector of Hong Kong, jointly organised by the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) and the Social Welfare Department (SWD) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Connecting Hearts, was held today (April 10). The symposium explored the alignment of Hong Kong's social welfare sector with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and focused on the sharing of the sector's self-initiated efforts in safeguarding national security, with a view to supporting the high-quality development of the "one country, two systems" policy.
      
     The symposium was officiated by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun. Over 300 management personnel from social welfare organisations attended the event, while around 9 000 participants from the social welfare sector took part online, fully demonstrating the social welfare sector's strong commitment to national security. Deputy Director-General of the Social Work Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR Dr Zhou He and the President of the Connecting Hearts Academy, Professor Annie Tam, also attended the symposium.
      
     Addressing the symposium, Mr Sun remarked that the white paper titled "Hong Kong: Safeguarding China's National Security Under the Framework of One Country, Two Systems", published by the State Council Information Office in February this year, sets out thoroughly the Central Government's principled stance on safeguarding national security in Hong Kong and gives a systematic account of Hong Kong's experience in safeguarding national security, offering important insights and guidance for all sectors of Hong Kong society. The successful conclusion of the eighth-term Legislative Council General Election last year under the principle of "patriots administering Hong Kong", faithfully implementing the practice of "one country, two systems", was a crucial realisation of strengthening the national security shield. He stressed that social welfare work carries significant responsibilities and expressed his hope that the sector will continue to work shoulder to shoulder with the Government to actively advance efforts to safeguard national security, so that the society can focus its efforts on striving for a vibrant economy, pursuing development, and improving people's livelihood.
      
     Mr Sun said that while this year marks the beginning of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, it is incumbent upon all sectors of the community to consider and act on how Hong Kong can make full use of its strengths to serve the country's needs and further integrate into the overall national development. He also encouraged the social welfare sector to seize the opportunities from the 15th Five-Year Plan, deepening and strengthening the collaboration on social welfare in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and thus contributing Hong Kong's strengths to the country's development.
      
     Member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and the President of the Legislative Council, Dr Starry Lee, was also invited to share her valuable insights on the National 15th Five-Year Plan and explore with the participants of the symposium how to further reinforce efforts in safeguarding national security under the "one country, two systems".
      
     Another highlight of the symposium was a sharing session featuring representatives from six social welfare organisations, who presented their self-initiated efforts and practical experiences in safeguarding national security. The session fostered peer exchanges and mutual learning across the sector, encouraging organisations to more effectively integrate national security measures into their daily operations and jointly fulfil the sector's mission and responsibilities in safeguarding national security.
      
     In his concluding remarks, Mr Sun said that the social welfare sector has actively supported the work of the LWB and the SWD during the previous year to promote national security. In addition to participating in the symposium, sharing sessions on national security and visiting the National Security Exhibition Gallery, the social welfare sector has also taken the initiative to organise training programmes, subsidised by the Dedicated Fund of the SWD, on understanding of national affairs and safeguarding national security, as well as arranging exchange tours to the Mainland for their staff. Mr Sun expressed confidence that, as more stakeholders of the sector deepen their understanding of the country, the sector will definitely demonstrate a broader perspective and a deeper sense of patriotism in serving the community, thereby facilitating the development and integration of the social welfare services of both places.
 
Ends/Friday, April 10, 2026
Issued at HKT 18:16
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A symposium on safeguarding national security for the social welfare sector of Hong Kong, jointly organised by the Labour and Welfare Bureau and the Social Welfare Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Connecting Hearts, was held today (April 10). Photo shows the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, speaking at the symposium.
A symposium on safeguarding national security for the social welfare sector of Hong Kong, jointly organised by the Labour and Welfare Bureau and the Social Welfare Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Connecting Hearts, was held today (April 10). Photo shows (from left) Deputy Secretary for Labour and Welfare (Welfare) Mr Fletch Chan; the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To; the Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Ms Alice Lau; member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and the President of the Legislative Council, Dr Starry Lee; the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; Deputy Director-General of the Social Work Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR Dr Zhou He; the Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Ho Kai-ming; the President of the Connecting Hearts Academy, Professor Annie Tam; and the Deputy Director of Social Welfare (Administration), Ms Nancy Kwan, at the symposium.
A symposium on safeguarding national security for the social welfare sector of Hong Kong, jointly organised by the Labour and Welfare Bureau and the Social Welfare Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Connecting Hearts, was held today (April 10). Photo shows member of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and the President of the Legislative Council, Dr Starry Lee, giving a talk on the alignment with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and reinforcement of efforts in safeguarding national security under the "one country, two systems" principle at the symposium.
A symposium on safeguarding national security for the social welfare sector of Hong Kong, jointly organised by the Labour and Welfare Bureau and the Social Welfare Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Connecting Hearts, was held today (April 10). Photo shows representatives from social welfare organisations presenting their self-initiated efforts and practical experiences in safeguarding national security at the symposium.