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The Under Secretary for Home Affairs, Ms Florence Hui, today (April 19) visited members of Phase II of the Service Corps programme in Shaoguan City, Guangdong Province, who are there providing voluntary teaching support.
Following her arrival in Shaoguan this afternoon, Ms Hui visited the Service Corps members serving at Longgui Secondary School and Longgui Primary School in Wujiang District, and also visited their on-campus accommodation to learn about their living and service situation.
Speaking at a dinner with Mainland officials and Service Corps members, Ms Hui said that the active participation of the Corps members has contributed to the success of the programme.
She thanked the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Guangdong Provincial People's Government, the Shaoguan Municipal People's Government and relevant units for their contributions to the launch of Phase II of the Service Corps programme after the successful completion of Phase I. She also thanked them for their continued support in providing teaching placement, accommodation and management, which have allowed the Corps members to actively engage in their voluntary teaching duties in Shaoguan.
Phase I of the Service Corps programme began in September 2011 and was completed in January this year. Members of Phase II of the programme will continue to provide voluntary service in Shaoguan from February to July 2012, mainly offering teaching support in subjects such as English, sports, music, arts, geography, science and computing, and assistance in organising extra-curricular activities.
The Chief Executive announced in the 2010-11 Policy Address the establishment of the Service Corps, with a view to providing financial support for youths aged between 18 and 29 to serve in underprivileged areas in the Mainland for six to 12 months. The programme seeks to develop Hong Kong young people's tenacity and potential, encourage them to serve others and contribute to the country, and enhance their understanding of the country and their sense of national identity, and at the same time promote the spirit of volunteerism.
Ms Hui will visit the other two schools under the programme tomorrow, namely Lishi Town Centre Primary School and Huaping Experimental School, and will depart for Hong Kong in the afternoon.
Ends/Thursday, April 19, 2012
Issued at HKT 19:02
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