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The Chief Executive, Mr Donald Tsang heard about the hardships faced by some families when he visited the Kwun Tong district today (January 26).
Mr Tsang visited two family homes and gave them his best wishes ahead of the Chinese New Year. He also took the opportunity to learn more about their lives and their views about government services.
Accompanied by the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Paul Tang Kwok-wai, and the District Social Welfare Officer (Kwun Tong), Mrs Cecilia Yuen, Mr Tsang first visited a six-member extended family.
The family - a couple, their two young children, and the husband's mother and younger sister - lived on Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) until last year when the wife, who came to Hong Kong four years ago, found a job. She then quit CSSA with her husband and children.
She told Mr Tsang that when she first arrived in Hong Kong, she faced a lot of pressure including adjustment and financial problems, and the burden of caring for her mother-in-law, husband and children. But she said the counselling and support services provided by social workers had helped her move ahead during those difficult times.
She would continue to lead a proactive life, she told the Chief Executive.
"I really appreciate the wife's positive attitude to strive for self-reliance despite the various family and livelihood problems, and that she chose to work rather than continue to rely on CSSA," Mr Tsang said after the visit. "She is indeed an exemplary mother."
Mr Tsang also visited a single parent family comprising a mother and her young daughter.
Faced with financial difficulties, the mother had to care for her daughter who suffered from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Apart from their emotional support, social workers had catered to the family's financial, child-care and housing needs.
The mother was grateful to the social workers for helping her know how to better deal with children with behavioural problems and in improving her living.
The Chief Executive said he understood the pressure on a single mother having to look after a child in need of special care. He had encouraged the mother to adopt a positive attitude in facing the problem.
"The Government will continue to provide resources and services to look after the developmental needs of children requiring special care," he said.
Mr Tsang commended the self-reliance and perseverance demonstrated by the two families he met. He stressed that they were not alone in facing problems. The Government would provide appropriate assistance to people in need and he urged those who were emotionally disturbed by family problems to seek early help.
Ends/Thursday, January 26, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:00
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