政务司司长出席「多元文化庆回归嘉年华暨少数族裔关爱队启动礼」致辞（附图／短片）
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Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
A warm welcome to our multicultural carnival and kick-off ceremony for Ethnic Minority Care Teams.
Hong Kong has long been a vibrant multicultural metropolis, which more than 300 000 ethnic minority residents call home. Not only have they enriched our city's cultural diversity, but they have also contributed to its development in many ways.
The Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government spares no effort in building a caring and inclusive society. Our support for ethnic minorities is wide-ranging - from education and employment to welfare, healthcare and community integration.
The Chief Executive, in his Policy Address last year, announced a series of new support measures. They include setting up dedicated Care Teams, and additional support service centres, for ethnic minorities.
To that end, I am pleased to announce that eight Ethnic Minority Care Teams will be set up today. They will underpin the services provided by the eight existing government-funded support service centres for ethnic minorities.
The Care Teams will visit ethnic minority households and stay in touch with them. Besides keeping them posted on the latest government information, the Care Teams will proactively find out and fulfil their needs with relevant services. If necessary, the Care Teams can also refer them to relevant government departments or organisations for follow-up.
Meanwhile, our Government is setting up two additional support service centres for ethnic minorities - one in Kowloon Central, the other one in New Territories East - bringing the total to ten. We expect the two new centres, along with two more dedicated Care Teams, will come into service by year's end.
With 10 centres in place by then, we will be able to cover all the major districts of ethnic minority communities in Hong Kong. In those centres, ethnic minorities can enjoy holistic support, which covers orientation programmes, language and after-school tutorials, community integration workshops, youth activities, counselling services, and much more.
All in all, we are always here for members of our city's ethnic minorities, helping them unleash their potential and realise their dreams.
And our support for ethnic minorities goes beyond Hong Kong. We are grateful for the Central Government's recently announced measure for non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents - many ethnic minority residents included - to apply for designated Mainland travel permits (Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (Non-Chinese Citizens)).
With these permits, they can easily go to the Mainland for tourism or business, enjoying self-service clearance and greater clearance efficiency at Mainland control points.
The measure has been well received by ethnic minorities, I am pleased to say. Our Kowloon City and Yau Tsim Mong District Offices have organised designated sessions to help them apply for permits. Looking ahead, our dedicated Care Teams, and their affiliated support service centres, will also provide the necessary support.
Ladies and gentlemen, today's carnival presents a variety of cultural performances and interactive game booths to celebrate the 27th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR. I am sure you will enjoy it.
On that note, I look forward to the close collaboration between our Government and the Ethnic Minority Care Teams together with their affiliated support service centres. Let's build a more harmonious and better Hong Kong together.
Now, I will say a few words in Chinese.
很开心与各位一同出席「多元文化庆回归嘉年华暨少数族裔关爱队启动礼」。
香港是一个充满活力的国际大都会，现时有超过30万名少数族裔人士。特区政府很重视构建关爱共融的社会，一直向少数族裔人士提供全方位的支援，涵盖教育、就业、福利、医疗，以至融入社区等。
行政长官透过去年《施政报告》再下一城，宣布一系列新措施，其中两项就是成立少数族裔关爱队，以及增设少数族裔人士支援服务中心。
在这里，我很开心向大家宣布，八支少数族裔关爱队在今日正式成立，强化全港现有八间少数族裔人士支援服务中心的服务。这些专职专责的关爱队，将会与少数族裔人士保持紧密联系，包括上门探访，除了向他们发放政府最新信息之外，更重要的是主动了解他们的需要，向他们提供所需服务，并因应情况转介至相关部门或机构去跟进。
同时，特区政府正全力推进增设两间少数族裔人士支援服务中心的工作。两间中心分别位于九龙中和新界东，预计今年年底启用，到时多两支少数族裔关爱队亦会投入服务。届时，一共10间支援服务中心将会涵盖全港少数族裔人士的主要聚居地方。
我们希望，所有在香港生活的少数族裔朋友，都会视香港为你们的家，在这里尽展所长、成就梦想。
我们亦很感谢中央积极回应特区政府的建议，最近宣布非中国籍的香港永久性居民可以申请《来往内地通行证》（《港澳居民来往内地通行证（非中国籍）》），让他们「一卡在手」，就可以享受自助通关的便利。我们会继续为少数族裔朋友，做好相关的推广和支援工作。
我充满信心，特区政府联同所有少数族裔关爱队和少数族裔人士支援服务中心，将会携手并肩，建设更和谐、更美好的香港。
最后，我希望大家好好享受今日这个多元文化嘉年华，一起庆祝香港特区成立27周年。多谢大家。
完
2024年7月28日（星期日）
香港时间17时54分
香港时间17时54分
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政务司司长出席「多元文化庆回归嘉年华暨少数族裔关爱队启动礼」