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The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, visited Eastern District this afternoon (November 27). She met with members of Eastern District Council and called at Youth Outreach and the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) (Chai Wan), where she exchanged views with young people and students of different ages.
Mrs Lam first met with members of Eastern District Council to listen to their views on local issues and development, including traffic and transport, constitutional development, youth and education, housing and community planning.
Accompanied by the Chairman of Eastern District Council, Mr Wong Kin-pan, and District Officer (Eastern), Ms Anne Teng, Mrs Lam received a briefing by the Eastern District Office, the Architectural Services Department, the Planning Department and the Lands Administration Office on the scope and progress of the Signature Project of Eastern District, the highlights of which are the Eastern District Cultural Square to be built near Aldrich Bay Promenade and Tam Kung Temple. The works include constructing an outdoor performance stage and a piazza. Upon completion, the new Cultural Square will not only provide open space for staging cultural activities, but will also revitalise the harbourfront and nearby areas.
Later, Mrs Lam visited Youth Outreach's integrated services building in Sai Wan Ho together with the President of Youth Outreach, Miss Au King-chi, and the Executive Director of Youth Outreach, Mr Peter Newbery. In addition to providing training fields for adventure professionals and hostel facilities for young people, Youth Outreach has also set up a number of social enterprises including the production house AS Production, City Challenge—Adventure Professionals, and the School of Hip Hop. After hearing about the services and operations of Youth Outreach, Mrs Lam chatted with young people at the centre to learn more about their experience of rejoining the work force through the employment services programme.
Accompanied by the Chairman of the Vocational Training Council, Dr Clement Chen, the Executive Director, Mrs Carrie Yau, and the Principal of the IVE (Chai Wan), Professor Simpson Poon, Mrs Lam then visited IVE (Chai Wan) and toured the facilities of the Institute, which include a simulated dispensary for Chinese and Western medicine, a pharmaceutical manufacturing laboratory, a training restaurant and a training kitchen. Mrs Lam also chatted with teachers and students there to better understand the learning environment and career prospects of the students.
Before concluding the visit, Mrs Lam talked with some teenagers in Eastern District, including members of the Outstanding Youth Commendation Scheme (aged 18 to 25) and the E-League programme (secondary students aged 15 to 18). Mrs Lam also met with the panel for the E-League programme and representatives of the participating organisations.
Eastern District Office launched its first E-League programme in 2014 to strengthen the youth network on a district basis. The programme aims at establishing a close youth network as well as positively influencing and bringing together teenagers in the district. Secondary students participating in the programme are nominated by schools in the district and selected by a panel. Mrs Lam exchanged views with teenagers and students and heard about issues they are concerned with.
Ends/Thursday, November 27, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:33
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