The following is issued on behalf of the Family Council:

     The Family Council (Council) welcomes the initiatives on promoting family education in "The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address" delivered by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (October 25).

     The Chief Executive announced in the Policy Address the launching of a new five-year Funding Scheme on the Promotion of Family Education by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Council, with an annual amount of funding of $8 million to support community projects to promote family education.

     The Chairperson of the Council, Ms Melissa Kaye Pang, said, "I am very delighted that the Government will launch the new scheme by consolidating the existing Thematic Sponsorship Scheme to Support Family-related Initiatives by the Council and increase the funding to support families on the matters relating to raising children, maintaining family relationship, etc. The Council will work closely with the Government on the implementation details."

     The Council also supports the initiatives to further enhance women's development as announced in the Policy Address, including organising the first Family and Women Development Summit; launching a one-stop family and women information portal; and introducing a maintenance mediation pilot scheme through the Community Care Fund in 2024. Ms Pang hoped that these initiatives would help women to play their unique function in the family and society, with an aim to enhancing family happiness and social harmony.

     The Council was established in 2007. It is committed to publicising the culture of loving families through organising various promotional activities. The Council has also been promoting the three sets of family core values, namely "Love and Care", "Respect and Responsibility" and "Communication and Harmony" in the community.

Ends/Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Issued at HKT 20:40

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