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The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Rafael Hui, visited Tuen Mun district this morning (July 17) to familiarise himself with matters of concern in the district. He also visited some community development projects. He was accompanied by District Council Chairman Lau Wong-fat and Vice Chairman Leung Kin-man.
Mr Hui first inspected the stream course improvement works at Tuen Tsz Wai - a small-scale Rural Public Works project. The project includes reconstruction of a silted-up natural drain to turn it into a 320-metre-wide concrete drainage channel and resurfacing of a one-metre-wide pavement alongside the channel.
The District Officer of Tuen Mun, Mr Stephen Chung, told Mr Hui that the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department's staff would clear the grass on both sides of the channel and conduct an anti-mosquito operation every week to maintain environmental hygiene.
Mr Hui then visited the Yan Oi Tong Rainbow Community Integrated Services Centre in Yau Oi Estate to take a look at the special community project - "Establish Tuen Mun with Chinese Intelligence", which is sponsored by the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF), the Social Welfare Department and local businesses. Many local residents have joined the project, which is unique in that people can explore, organise and promote folk wisdom and skills, and transform them into community assets. It also allows individuals to use their abilities to serve the community.
In the Community Centre, project members showed Mr Hui how to recycle unused clothes into cloth handcrafts; make environmentally friendly soap with used edible oil; and exchange used items. Residents also offer hair-cutting services or barter their second-hand items for services or goods, like beauty treatments or organic vegetables.
"I am pleased to see such a mutually beneficial community development project in Tuen Mun, in particular, it is well supported by local shop-owners and residents," Mr Hui said.
"It is good to see Tuen Mun residents' enthusiasm for the project, and their efforts can meet the needs of the district. The project is worthy of support. On many occasions, district problems can be solved at the district level, where people can develop their community spirit in a harmonious and co-operative manner," he said.
Mr Hui also toured the Tuen Mun Town Centre, where he was briefed by the Director of Highways, Mr Mak Chai-kwong, and the Tuen Mun District Council's Traffic and Transport Committee Chairman, Mr So Shiu-shing, on the Council's concern over traffic problems, in particular the impact of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Western Corridor and Deep Bay Link, and expansion of the existing two-lane traffic into three in the town centre.
Ends/Monday, July 17, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:55
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