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The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, visited Kwai Tsing District this afternoon (September 3) to learn more about the progress of construction work of facilities and support for the socially disadvantaged in the district.
Mr Tsang visited the Harmonious Multi-cultural Mobile Service Centre of the New Home Association in Tai Wo Hau Estate. The mobile centre provides ethnic minorities with services including a small library; an information kiosk; Chinese, English, Mathematics and computer classes; seminars; and consultation services provided by registered social workers.
He was pleased to learn that the mobile centre had served more than 600 persons since its launch in July this year. Knowing that the association plans to promote anti-drug messages among families of ethnic minorities and the youth in the coming year, Mr Tsang hopes different organisations would put in place more services to cater for local needs.
Mr Tsang then visited the Tsuen Wan Chinese Permanent Cemetery. Opened in 1941, the cemetery now provides over 47,000 niches. Mr Tsang is the Chairman of the Board of Management of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries (BMCPC).
He pointed out that the BMCPC is actively studying the provision of additional niches in the existing cemeteries to meet the heavy demand in the community. In addition, works are now being carried out in the Tsuen Wan Chinese Permanent Cemetery to provide 2,000 more niches.
Mr Tsang then proceeded to visit an elderly singleton who had recently undergone cataract surgery. Mr Tsang asked him about the needs of the elderly for dental services and introduced to him the Community Care Fund's Elderly Dental Assistance Programme after learning that he had teeth problems.
Mr Tsang went to the Tsuen Wan Trade Association Chung Loi Kindergarten in Tsing Yi before concluding his visit. The school has over 100 students. Some 40 of them are cross-boundary students and more than 10 are ethnic minorities including Pakistani and Filipino. The school has hired teachers from South Asian and other foreign backgrounds to help the ethnic minority students to adapt to school life and strengthen the communication between the school and their parents.
Ends/Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Issued at HKT 19:05
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