Steering Committee on District Governance convenes seventh meeting (with photos)
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Mr Chan said, "Since the establishment of the Steering Committee and the Task Force on District Governance three years ago, they have steadfastly adhered to people-oriented principles. Through top-level supervision and interdepartmental collaboration, they have co-ordinated various bureaux and departments to jointly take forward multiple measures closely related to citizens' daily lives. These efforts have enhanced district services, improved environmental hygiene and upgraded community facilities, thereby responding to public needs and translating the achievements of enhanced district governance into tangible community improvements that citizens can see and benefit from."
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 district services, environmental hygiene, and community facilities, all aimed at creating a better living environment for the public.
In terms of district services, as at end-May 2026, the District Services and Community Care Teams (Care Teams) in all districts had visited or reached out to over 118 000 singleton and doubleton elderly households, carers of elderly persons and persons with disabilities. More than 3 900 households (involving over 4 400 elderly persons or persons with disabilities) were referred by the Care Teams to receive subsidies for installation of the Care-On-Call device. The Care Teams have started visiting high-risk households in "three-nil" buildings since March this year to help build a more comprehensive community support network. In addition, in the 2025/26 school year, over 10 000 students from 207 primary schools participated in the School-based After School Care Service Scheme (the Scheme), representing an increase of 81 schools compared with the previous school year. The Scheme will continue to have no cap on the number of places in the 2026/27 school year to support more families in need of care services.
In terms of environmental hygiene, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) has continued to step up its rodent control efforts and make good use of technology. It has fully deployed thermal imaging cameras coupled with artificial intelligence technology to monitor the rodent situation, enabling the department to grasp rodent activity patterns and movement routes at different locations. This allows for flexible resource allocation and the implementation of more targeted rodent control operations. The FEHD has also stepped up enforcement actions to tackle rodent infestations in private premises. Between January and June 2026, it issued a total of 171 Notices of Elimination of Vermin to building management personnel or owners, requiring them to promptly address rodent infestation in their buildings. Furthermore, the FEHD is actively exploring the use of innovative technology to enhance the efficiency of street cleaning services. In May 2026, it expanded the trial of autonomous street cleaning robots to the Kai Tak New Development Area.
In terms of community facilities, the Housing Department continues to carry out improvement works for public housing estates and has already completed facade beautification projects for nine housing estates. The Highways Department has resurfaced a total of 80 sections of pavement, measuring more than 26 kilometres in aggregate length, and is now making every effort to advance the pavement and carriageway resurfacing project in the core Lan Kwai Fong area, with the aim of completion before Halloween this year. In addition, the Transport Department (TD) is progressively installing new electronic audible traffic signals (eATs) at signalised junctions across the territory. The new devices incorporate additional functions including voice messages of crossing locations and touchless pedestrian push buttons to better suit the needs of visually impaired persons and other pedestrians. By the end of June 2026, the TD had completed the replacement at more than 600 junctions throughout Hong Kong.
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 respond to citizens' aspirations with concrete results and truly enhance their sense of achievement.
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/Monday, July 27, 2026
Issued at HKT 18:25
Issued at HKT 18:25
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