kakase/hk_gov_press_release huggingface dataset:
SLW encourages young people to join Youth Employment and Training Programme (with photos)
30.8.2019

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, has encouraged young people to join the Youth Employment and Training Programme (YETP) of the Labour Department (LD) to seize every opportunity for self-enhancement and boost their competitiveness in employment. Officiating at the Award Ceremony of YETP Most Improved Trainees 2019 cum Concert co-organised by the LD and Radio 2 of Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) tonight (August 30), Dr Law said that over the years the LD has been providing one-stop pre-employment and on-the-job training through the YETP for young people with a view to helping them unleash their full potential in employment. To cater for the needs of the labour market and the young people, new pre-employment training courses will be rolled out under the YETP in the coming Programme Year 2019/20 to equip young people with new job-specific skills and improve their chances of joining the industries they wish to be part of. "Among the awardees this year are a secondary school graduate who has entered the banking industry through a large-scale recruitment day under the YETP, a youth who joined a green business start-up for a taste of entrepreneurship, and a trainee who has made full use of his knowledge in mechanics to set foot in the railway industry through the YETP. There are also trainees who have transformed their passions in music, aircraft and model cars into competitive edges and built up their career paths in the music, aircraft maintenance and automobile repair industries," Dr Law said. Dr Law pointed out that apart from the trainees' own hard work, the concerted efforts of employers and training bodies supportive of the programme are indispensable in helping trainees apply their own interests and skills in career development. He expressed the hope that every sector of the community would continue to work together to create an environment with different opportunities for young people so that they can envision a brighter future. The award ceremony and concert co-organised by the LD and RTHK was themed "Dream Journey with YETP". The awards were presented to 10 outstanding trainees who achieved significant improvements in personal development, leadership or work performance during the training period. Moreover, 12 other trainees have been selected for the Merit Awards so as to encourage more young people to work hard in realising their career goals and dreams. The YETP is open to young school leavers aged 15 to 24 with educational attainment at sub-degree level or below. Trainees who are undergoing pre-employment training or who have completed the workplace attachment training are eligible for a training allowance. Enrolment is free of charge on a year-round basis. For details, please visit the YETP's website at www.yes.labour.gov.hk . The LD has also set up a Youth Employment Services hotline 2112 9932 to provide a one-stop enquiry service on the programme and register training vacancies provided by interested employers.
SLW forges closer ties between Hong Kong and Japan to tackle ageing challenges (with photos)
7.8.2019

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, today (August 7) concluded his visit to Tokyo, Japan, saying that Hong Kong looked forward to strengthening collaboration and exchanges with the Japanese government and trade sector on elderly care and gerontechnology in tackling the challenges of a rapidly ageing population. In his meeting with the State Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, Mr Yoshinori Oguchi, yesterday (August 6), Dr Law said that Japan started to tackle ageing challenges earlier than Hong Kong and thus its experience in many aspects has been a valuable reference for Hong Kong. He encouraged Japanese businesses to tap the Hong Kong market and foster exchanges with local non-governmental organisations. Dr Law also called on the Cabinet Office today and was briefed on Japan's policy initiatives in response to the challenges of an ageing society including the financial burden on long-term care needs and acute shortages of care staff. Together with delegates from the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Dr Law visited a showroom and a service centre of a care equipment supplier yesterday to take a closer look at innovative products supporting household care and ageing in place, such as care beds for purchase or rental. Dr Law and delegates attended an expert panel discussion on the same day to exchange views with the elderly and the rehabilitation care service sector on matters including the operations of local equipment rental services, the role of case managers and home nursing care services. He also had a candid exchange with representatives of the gerontechnology trade at a dinner hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Tokyo. Speaking during the above occasions, Dr Law pointed out that Hong Kong launched a $1 billion Innovation and Technology Fund for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care to promote the application of gerontechnology as well as to subsidise service units to try out and procure or rent technology products. He appealed to Japanese manufacturers to consider the Hong Kong market, and to tap business opportunities brought about by the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Before concluding his visit today, he met with the Chinese Ambassador to Japan, Mr Kong Xuanyou, and updated him on the latest labour market and economic situation in Hong Kong. He departed for Hong Kong this afternoon.
SLW visits elderly care facilities in Tokyo (with photos)
5.8.2019

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, today (August 5) visited a number of public and private organisations providing elderly-friendly services in his visit to Tokyo, Japan. Dr Law first visited the Tokyo Metropolitan Foundation for Social Welfare and Public Health to learn more about its work on promoting the use of gerontechnology. Together with the Chairperson of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, Mr Bernard Chan, and the Executive Director, Charities and Community of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Cheung Leong, he toured an exhibition hall where a wide range of aiding equipment catering for different needs of elderly users in both residential and community care settings was displayed and available for rental. He then visited an integrated elderly care facility of Social Welfare Corporation Zenkoukai and was briefed on how technology has been applied to improve staff deployment to deliver more efficient care services for elderly persons, including patients with dementia and those with poor health or disabilities. In the afternoon, Dr Law had lunch with clients of a day care centre for the elderly and was pleased to hear about their daily lives in the centre. He then proceeded to Future Care Lab in Japan under the same operator where he took the opportunity to see tailor-made food products for the elderly. The food texture has taken into account nutrition needs, safety and swallowing difficulties of the frail elderly while the taste is delicious. Dr Law also attended a panel discussion on care food to hear presentations by Japanese experts on elderly care food from the healthcare sector, academia and the trade on the importance of rehabilitation nutrition. While giving an outline of elderly policies in Hong Kong, Dr Law pointed out that the blend of nursing care and technology was of great reference value to Hong Kong in developing a more sustainable service model for elderly care. He will meet with more representatives of the care food business this evening to discuss the promotion of care food supply and will continue with other visits in the following two days.
SLW to visit Tokyo
3.8.2019

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, will depart for Tokyo, Japan, tomorrow morning (August 4) to meet with Japanese senior government officials and trade representatives to exchange views on the latest developments of elderly care and gerontechnology. Dr Law will meet with the State Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, Mr Yoshinori Oguchi, and representative of the Cabinet Office to exchange views on matters of mutual interest. He will also call on the Chinese Ambassador to Japan, Mr Kong Xuanyou. While in Tokyo, he will visit public and private organisations providing elderly-friendly services as well as elderly care and community facilities. He will also attend expert panel discussion sessions with the elderly care food sector and service providers of technology products to get an update on their application of technology in elderly and rehabilitation care. Representatives of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and the Hong Kong Jockey Club will join parts of the trip. Dr Law will arrive in Hong Kong on August 7. In his absence, the Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Caspar Tsui, will be the Acting Secretary for Labour and Welfare.
Hong Kong signs Working Holiday Scheme agreement with Italy (with photos)
5.7.2019

Hong Kong and Italy today (July 5) signed an agreement to mark the establishment of a bilateral Working Holiday Scheme (WHS) for young people of the two places. The agreement was signed by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Dr Law Chi-kwong, and the Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Government of the Italian Republic, Mr Manlio Di Stefano, at the Central Government Offices, Tamar. Welcoming the establishment of the scheme with Italy, Dr Law said, "We are delighted to see that the WHS has been well received by the youth. The agreement will enable young people in Hong Kong and Italy to broaden their horizons and gain living and working experience in a foreign culture, as well as further reinforce our bilateral ties." Mr Di Stefano said, "We are glad to provide the Italian youth with this new and unique opportunity to experience living, studying and working in Hong Kong. We wish young people from Hong Kong will take advantage of the scheme to enjoy Italy as well. Investing in our youth is the best way to foster the ancient friendship between Italy and Hong Kong." The scheme with Italy is Hong Kong's 14th bilateral WHS. Since 2001, Hong Kong has established WHS arrangements with New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Germany, Japan, Canada, Korea, France, the United Kingdom, Austria, Hungary, Sweden and the Netherlands. So far, about 90 000 Hong Kong youths have benefited from these schemes. Under the WHS between Hong Kong and Italy, youths from each side may apply for a visa which will allow them to stay in Italy or Hong Kong for up to 12 months. During the period, they may work to finance their stay or study short-term courses. The annual quota from each side will be 500. Details of visa application procedures for applicants from Hong Kong will be available on the website of the Consulate General of Italy in Hong Kong at conshongkong.esteri.it/consolato_hongkong/en/ in due course. Applicants from Italy may contact the Immigration Department of the HKSAR by telephone on 2824 6111 or obtain the necessary information from the department's website www.immd.gov.hk .
SLW attends International Labour Conference and conducts visits in Geneva (with photos)
18.6.2019

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, today (June 18, Geneva time) continued his visit in Geneva, Switzerland, and attended meetings of the Centenary Conference of the International Labour Organization (ILO). As part of the delegation of the People's Republic of China (PRC), Dr Law is attending the Centenary Conference from June 17 to 19 (Geneva time), including plenary sittings and a high-level session with national and international leaders, a thematic forum on technological pathways for decent work and meetings of the Committee on the Application of Standards and the Standard-Setting Committee of the ILO on violence and harassment in the world of work. Representatives of the Labour Department and the Labour Advisory Board are also attending the Centenary Conference. On the sidelines of the meetings, Dr Law met with the System Initiative Management Team led by the Head of the Centre for the New Economy and Society of the World Economic Forum, Ms Saadia Zahidi, this morning to exchange views on the development of vocational education and skills upgrading of the labour force to prepare for the advent of the artificial intelligence era. In his visit to the International Social Security Association (ISSA) yesterday (June 17, Geneva time), Dr Law met with Secretary General, Mr Marcelo Abi-Ramia Caetano, and other key officials of the ISSA and discussed international experience in tackling challenges arising from an ageing population, including the sustainability of the social security system, provision of long-term care and a shrinking labour force. Dr Law called on the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative of the PRC to the United Nations Office at Geneva and other International Organizations in Switzerland, Mr Chen Xu, on the same day to update him on the latest labour market and economic situation in Hong Kong. He has also held lunch meetings with delegates of the China Enterprise Confederation and the All-China Federation of Trade Unions over these two days. Dr Law will attend more sessions of the Centenary Conference and meet with the ILO's Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Ms Tomoko Nishimoto, tomorrow (June 19, Geneva time) before concluding his visit and setting off for Hong Kong.
SLW to attend International Labour Conference in Geneva
14.6.2019

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, will depart for Geneva, Switzerland, tomorrow evening (June 15) to attend the 108th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC), which is also called the Centenary Conference as 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Dr Law will attend the ILC as a member of the delegation of the People's Republic of China (PRC). The agenda of this year's ILC includes the discussion of the report of the Global Commission on the Future of Work of the ILO entitled "Work for a brighter future" and the international labour standards on ending violence and harassment in the world of work. While in Geneva, apart from exchanges with tripartite representatives of the PRC delegation, Dr Law will also call on the Permanent Mission of the PRC to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations in Switzerland and have meetings with representatives of the ILO's Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, the International Social Security Association and the System Initiative Management Team of the World Economic Forum to exchange views on matters of mutual interest. Representatives of the Labour Department and the Labour Advisory Board are also attending the ILC. Dr Law will arrive in Hong Kong on June 20. In his absence, the Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Caspar Tsui, will be the Acting Secretary for Labour and Welfare.
Speech by SLW at Launch Ceremony of Hong Kong Jockey Club End-of-Life Community Care Project Phase 2 (English only)  
7.5.2019

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, at the Launch Ceremony of Hong Kong Jockey Club End-of-Life Community Care Project Phase 2 today (May 7): Dr Eric Li (Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club), Professor William Hayward (Dean of Social Sciences, the University of Hong Kong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good morning everyone. May I begin by saying how pleased I am to join all of you today for the launching ceremony of Phase 2 of the Jockey Club End-of-Life Community Care Project. Phase 1 of this most meaningful project began three years back in 2016. Since then, Jockey Club End of Life Community Care has benefited many elderly and patients suffering from terminal illness, by providing them with a comprehensive range of life caring services including medical, emotional and psychological support. Aside from such much-needed services, this project has effectively raised public awareness on the need for end-of-life care. Meanwhile, the project has taught and inspired most on how best to approach life's end with positive perspectives. It is thus gratifying to know that the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust has committed to support this project for another three years, until 2021. Their continued support could definitely enable service providers to enhance their services, thereby providing even more caring services for more of those in need. On this note, let me wish the second phase of the End-of-Life Community Care Project every success. I must once again thank the Hong Kong Jockey Club and all the service providers for their contributions and hard work in providing our "last milers" with love and care as they soldier on with dignity. Thank you very much.
SLW expresses sorrow over passing of Mr Chan Kam-hong
6.5.2019

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, was saddened today (May 6) to learn of the passing of the Chief Executive of the Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims, Mr Chan Kam-hong. "I have known Mr Chan for over 30 years, and have been most impressed by his strong commitment and passion. Under Mr Chan's leadership, the Association supports industrial accident victims and their families, and promotes employees' health, rehabilitation as well as employees' rights and benefits. Over the years, the Association has been the Government's partner in promoting occupational safety and health, and also provided valuable inputs on various labour policies on employees' compensation. On behalf of the Bureau and the Labour Department, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to his family," Dr Law said.
SLW visits Wan Chai District (with photos)
30.4.2019

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, today (April 30) visited Wan Chai District, where he took a closer look at pre-school rehabilitation and elderly services and met with District Council members. Accompanied by the Chairman of the Wan Chai District Council (WCDC), Mr Stephen Ng; the Vice-chairman of WCDC, Dr Jennifer Chow; the District Officer (Wan Chai), Mr Rick Chan; and the District Social Welfare Officer (Eastern and Wan Chai), Miss Hannah Yip, he first went to Hong Kong Christian Service Morrison Hill Child Development Centre to visit children with special needs. The centre is both a special child care centre and an early education and training centre. It also provides occasional child care services with extended hours for parents in need. The Government has regularised on-site pre-school rehabilitation services (OPRS) to provide training for children with special needs at about 710 kindergartens (KGs) or KG-cum-child care centres by inter-disciplinary teams co-ordinated by non-governmental organisations. Dr Law pointed out that the number of service places has increased from about 3 000 under the Pilot Scheme to about 5 000 at present, and this will be further increased to about 7 000 in the 2019/20 school year. In addition, the Government will launch a pilot project later through the Lotteries Fund to provide support for children in KGs or KG-cum-child care centres who show signs of special needs and are waiting for assessment. He then proceeded to Po Leung Kuk Wan Chai Home for the Elderly cum Day Care Centre for the Elderly to better understand the operation of the Pilot Scheme on Residential Care Service Voucher for the Elderly. The Pilot Scheme provides an additional choice for elderly persons in need by allowing them to choose the services provided by eligible residential care homes for the elderly under the Pilot Scheme according to their needs. Dr Law also went to the WCDC to exchange views with WCDC members on labour and welfare issues as well as to discuss matters of local concern.
SLW visits Islands District (with photos)
24.4.2019

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, today (April 24) visited Islands District, where he took a closer look at welfare services in Tung Chung and met with District Council members. The Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare (USLW), Mr Caspar Tsui, also joined the visit. Dr Law first went to the Islands District Council to exchange views with the Chairman, Mr Chow Yuk-tong, and members on labour and welfare issues as well as matters of local concern. Accompanied by the District Officer (Islands), Mr Anthony Li, and the District Social Welfare Officer (Central Western, Southern and Islands), Ms Ip Siu-ming, he proceeded to the Neighbourhood Advice-Action Council Tung Chung Integrated Services Centre (ISC). Since its establishment in 2001, the ISC has been providing integrated "through-train" services for residents of all ages in Tung Chung and remote areas on Lantau Island. These services include the provision of after-school care for seven days a week; family counselling; support for ageing in place; visits to elderly singletons and doubletons in remote places; school social work service for teenagers; overnight outreaching teams; and services for ethnic minorities. In recent years, the ISC has also proactively provided necessary services for residents who moved into new public rental housing estates (PRHs) in the district. Dr Law said that the Government has been concerned about the needs of new PRH residents and has therefore funded a number of community support network projects for new PRHs through the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF). As of March 2019, the CIIF had funded a total of 47 projects which established community support and mutual help networks covering 32 new PRHs across the territory. Given the high effectiveness of the projects, the Government put forward in the 2018 Policy Address the regularisation of community support network projects for new PRHs to facilitate residents and families newly moved into PRHs in different districts to integrate into the community as soon as possible. Ten PRHs are expected to be completed in 2019-20. Dr Law noted that, in the Islands District, the CIIF is now funding seven projects operated by non-governmental organisations. Apart from three of them supporting students, youths and the elderly by cross-sectoral collaboration, the remaining four (including Tung Chung ISC) are assisting residents of new PRHs in Tung Chung to adapt to the new community, including Ying Tung Estate and Mun Tung Estate which started tenant intake last year. Also joining the district visit were two secondary school students enrolled in the "Be a Government Official for a Day" Programme 2019 - Heads of Departments Edition, who were shadowing USLW for one day. Not only did they gain direct experience of an official's work, but also a better understanding of social welfare services for different target groups.
Transcript of remarks by SLW on NGOs' Review Reports on Remuneration Packages for Staff in the Top Three Tiers
2.4.2019

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, on Review Reports on Remuneration Packages for Staff in the Top Three Tiers of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) after attending Session Two of a special meeting of the Panel on Welfare Services of the Legislative Council today (April 2): Reporter: (NGOs' remuneration packages for staff in the top three tiers) Secretary for Labour and Welfare: &hellip; (inaudible) The Social Welfare Department will examine those data, whether they are comparable with the government pay. We understand that in a number of NGOs, because they do not have similar fringe benefits as provided under the civil servants' arrangement, therefore they encash those cash benefits into the salary. So, in numeric values, we have to discount what we sometimes call "on-cost" , that is translated into salary of the NGOs' staff. As a result, we do consider those salaries are comparable to the civil servants' standards. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)