kakase/hk_gov_press_release huggingface dataset:
Government and community jointly promote active ageing by continuing to take forward Elder Academy Scheme (with photos/video)
30.4.2024

The Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) and the Elderly Commission (EC) held an Elder Academy (EA) Appreciation and Award Ceremony this afternoon (April 30) to thank organisations and individuals for their support for the EA Scheme and commend outstanding elderly learners. Some 200 participants attended the ceremony. Addressing the ceremony, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, said that the EA Scheme aims to promote active ageing, as well as encourage the elderly to pursue lifelong learning and integration into the community. Maintaining a positive attitude and leading an engaged life are conducive to both the physical and mental wellness of the elderly. The 2023 Policy Address announced that the Government would inject an additional $80 million to support the sustainable development of the EA Scheme for the benefit of more elderly persons. The Chairman of the EC, Dr Donald Li, thanked the organisations and individuals for their generous donations and support. The Scheme provides diversified study courses for the elderly, and the EAs in post-secondary institutions help realise elderly persons' dreams of attending university. At the same time, the Scheme fosters intergenerational and community harmony through cross-generational activities. Also officiating at the ceremony were the Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Ms Alice Lau; former Chairmen of the EC, namely Dr Edward Leong and Dr Lam Ching-choi; and the Chairperson of the Committee on EA Development Foundation (EADF), Ms Maggie Chan. Representatives of supporting organisations and convenors of EA Clusters across districts also attended. Supporting organisations and outstanding participants were presented with certificates of appreciation and various awards respectively while a cross-generational Chinese orchestra and a tai chi fan volunteer team put on performances to showcase elderly people's vitality and talents. Members of the EC and the Committee on EADF, representatives of EAs, EA elderly learners as well as their families and friends, senior and young volunteers and Golden Guides also attended the ceremony. The EA Scheme was jointly launched by the LWB and the EC in 2007 to enable the elderly to learn in a school setting. Currently, there are about 200 EAs in primary, secondary and post-secondary institutions across the territory. The Scheme is expected to provide around 15 000 learning places in 2024-25, offering more courses and activities catering for the interests and needs of the elderly. The EA Scheme's website ( www.elderacademy.org.hk ) has been enhanced with the details of the Scheme and the list of the supporting organisations.
Transcript of remarks by SLW
28.4.2024

âFollowing is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, on fatal work accident in Sha Tin at a media session after officiating at the opening ceremony of Come Phil Festival this afternoon (April 28): Reporter: Mr Sun, this is on industrial accidents. On the safety concerns of industrial accidents, could you have a few brief comments on that? Secretary for Labour and Welfare: We are looking into the accident in Sha Tin involving a confined space inside a sewer. Following the investigation, we will make sure we follow up strictly in accordance with legal provisions. Also, just like before, we are going to step up publicity and education efforts, to make sure that industrial safety is the first priority, not just to employers, but also to employees. We are going to take it forward through a multi-pronged approach. Thank you very much. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Commission on Children holds stakeholder engagement event to promote children's mental health and positive parenting (with photos/video)
22.4.2024

The Commission on Children (CoC) held a stakeholder engagement event on the theme of "Mental Health of Children and Positive Parenting" this afternoon (April 22), attended by a total of about 120 primary school students and their parents. The Secretary for Labour and Welfare and Vice-chairperson of the CoC, Mr Chris Sun, joined and listened to views from children and parents on how to improve physical and mental well-being through interactive activities. Representatives of the Education Bureau and the Department of Health also attended. The engagement event featured a parent-child film, sharing of parenting experience, group games and parent-child interactive activities. The purpose was to encourage positive parenting and cultivate a loving environment conducive to children's growth, thereby enhancing their mental health. Non-official members of the CoC assisted in moderating the group games and parent sharing sessions. Children were encouraged to speak up and express their emotional needs, and understand and embrace their emotions. Parents were offered advice on how to establish positive thinking for children and cater for their mental health. Under the "Walk with Kids" thematic campaign of the CoC, the stakeholder engagement event is the first event this year. With children's mental health and positive parenting as the focus, it aims to raise the awareness of parents on children's psychological and emotional well-being, and forge a pro-child community conducive to a healthy and happy childhood and children's development.
SLW meets Guangdong Province and Macao SAR leaders (with photos)
16.4.2024

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, called on the Director-General of the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Guangdong Province, Mr Du Minqi, on his visit to Guangzhou this afternoon (April 16). Mr Sun said that Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) will hold the Global Talent Summit . Hong Kong in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on May 7 and 8. Apart from confirming the attendance arrangements of representatives of the nine municipalities in Guangdong Province, the visit today aimed to follow up on the preparatory work prior to signing a Memorandum of Understanding on collaboration among the "9+2" cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) at the Second GuangdongâHong Kong-Macao GBA High-quality Talent Development Conference to be held on May 8, with a view to strengthening exchanges and co-operation in the work of talent services. HKTE will also stage the CareerConnect Expo on both days for international, local and regional strategic enterprises and partners to present to participants and global talent the opportunities of Hong Kong and the Mainland as well as development prospects of various sectors. Also, Mr Sun called on the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), Ms Ao Ieong U, on his visit to Macao on the morning of April 9. Mr Sun separately exchanged views with leaders of Guangdong Province and the Macao SAR on talent attraction policy initiatives and invited relevant leaders to attend the Summit to drive talent exchanges and co-operation in the GBA together. The Director of HKTE, Mr Anthony Lau, also joined the visits. Mr Sun will return to Hong Kong this evening.
SLW meets enterprises operating business on labour service co-operation with Hong Kong in Shenzhen (with photos)
11.3.2024

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, today (March 11) visited Shenzhen. Representatives of the Labour Department also joined the visit. Mr Sun first had lunch with the Deputy Secretary-General of the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government, Mr Wu Kunsheng; the Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Shenzhen, Ms Li Lirong; and the Deputy Director of the Commerce Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality, Mr Ye Wenge, and briefed them on the latest situation of Hong Kong's labour market and economy. They also exchanged views on areas for co-operation under the spirit of complementarity. In the afternoon, Mr Sun attended an exchange seminar with the Director General of the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province, Mr Zhang Jinsong, leaders of commerce authorities and representatives of enterprises operating business on labour service co-operation with Hong Kong to get a better grasp of the economic, trade and labour service co-operation between Guangdong and Hong Kong. Under the specified labour importation schemes, if the prospective imported workers are Mainland residents, employers in Hong Kong must recruit the imported workers through the enterprises operating business on labour service co-operation with Hong Kong approved by the relevant Mainland authorities. Mr Sun said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will work with relevant Mainland authorities on the management and supervision work, and protect the employment rights of imported workers in Hong Kong by establishing a regular communication mechanism. In addition, Mr Sun and other officials visited Shenzhen Talent Group and Shenzhen Foreign Service Group Co Ltd to take a closer look at the development of the human resources service sector in Shenzhen, talent required by different industries and relevant support services, before returning to Hong Kong this evening.
SLW-led delegation fosters exchanges in talent and welfare policies on Fujian visit (with photos)
5.3.2024

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, today (March 5) continued his visit to Fuzhou, Fujian. Accompanied by the Director of Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE), Mr Anthony Lau, Mr Sun paid a courtesy call on Deputy Director of the Fujian Provincial Department of Human Resources and Social Security Mr Hong Changchun this morning and exchanged views on endeavours to attract and support outside talent. Mr Sun outlined the achievements of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's policy initiatives to attract and retain talent with a view to raising competitiveness. HKTE is committed to attracting talent from the Mainland and overseas, providing one-stop support services to assist them for long-term settlement in the city. HKTE will organise the Global Talent Summit and Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area High-quality Talent Development Conference in May, aiming to promote Hong Kong's advantages as an international talent hub and enabling the flow of talent among the cities of the Greater Bay Area. Mr Sun and other officials then called on Deputy Director General of the Fujian Provincial Department of Civil Affairs Mr Ouyang Xiaobo to learn more about the elderly service planning in Fujian and explore how to cope with challenges in long-term care services amid an ageing population. Mr Sun said that Guangdong and Fujian are closely connected with Hong Kong on the social, economic and transport fronts, and most Hong Kong elderly persons retiring on the Mainland reside in these two provinces. The HKSAR Government currently implements various portable cash assistance measures, covering the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance as well as the Old Age Allowance and Old Age Living Allowance under the Social Security Allowance Scheme. As of end-January 2024, about 25 500 and 2 500 Hong Kong elderly persons residing in Guangdong Province and Fujian Province have benefitted from the relevant measures respectively. Prior to his departure, Mr Sun called on the Party Secretary and Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office and Director General of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People's Government of Fujian Province, Mr Li Lin, at a lunch gathering this afternoon and updated him on the latest developments in Hong Kong's labour, manpower and welfare policies, before returning to Hong Kong with his delegation.
SLW leads delegation to meet enterprises operating business on labour service co-operation with Hong Kong on Fujian visit (with photos)
4.3.2024

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, today (March 4) started his visit to Fuzhou, Fujian. Mr Sun first paid a courtesy call on the Executive Vice Governor of Fujian Province, Ms Guo Ningning this morning and updated her on Hong Kong's policy initiatives to recruit and support talent as well as the latest situation of the local labour market and economy. He then called on the Director of the Department of Commerce of Fujian Province, Mr Huang Heming, at a lunch gathering and exchanged views on the management, supervision and co-operation on importing labour to Hong Kong. He also met with recipients of the Fujian Scheme under the Social Security Allowance Scheme to understand the needs of Hong Kong elderly persons retiring in Fujian. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government is implementing the Special Scheme to Import Care Workers for Residential Care Homes, the Labour Importation Scheme for the Construction Sector, the Labour Importation Scheme for the Transport Sector and the Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme to address acute manpower shortages across various sectors. If the prospective imported workers are Mainland residents, employers must recruit the imported workers through the enterprises operating business on labour service co-operation with Hong Kong approved by the relevant Mainland authorities. Mr Sun attended a seminar this afternoon to get a better grasp of the practical experience of Fujian enterprises operating business on labour service co-operation with Hong Kong under various labour importation schemes. They had focused discussions on how to make good use of different schemes to meet the recruitment needs of employers and protect the employment rights of imported workers in Hong Kong in parallel. Mr Sun said that the HKSAR Government engages the Labour Advisory Board periodically on the implementation of the sector-specific labour importation schemes and will conduct a review, with a view to fine-tuning the design and implementation details of the sector-specific labour importation schemes if necessary. This evening, Mr Sun and his delegation had dinner with representatives of the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in Fujian to learn more about the investment of Hong Kong businesses in Fujian as well as the necessary support for Hong Kong residents and enterprises. He encouraged enterprises and talent in Hong Kong and Fujian to strengthen exchange and co-operation to integrate into the overall national development. The delegation comprises the Director of Hong Kong Talent Engage, Mr Anthony Lau, as well as representatives of the Labour Department. Mr Sun will continue his visit to Fujian tomorrow (March 5).
SLW to visit Fujian
2.3.2024

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, will depart for Fujian tomorrow evening (March 3). While in Fuzhou, Mr Sun will call on leaders of Fujian Province and visit the Department of Human Resources and Social Security, the Department of Civil Affairs and the Department of Commerce. In addition, he will meet with enterprises operating business on labour service co-operation with Hong Kong, recipients of the Fujian Scheme under the Social Security Allowance Scheme and Hong Kong people doing business in Fujian. The Director of Hong Kong Talent Engage, Mr Anthony Lau, and representatives of the Labour Department will also join the visit. Mr Sun will arrive in Hong Kong on the evening of March 5. In his absence, the Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Ho Kai-ming, will be the Acting Secretary for Labour and Welfare.
Transcript of remarks by SLW at media session (with photo/video)
25.2.2024

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, at a media session today (February 25): Reporter: Did Director Xia express any expectations for the Hong Kong Government about the poverty alleviation work? If yes, what are they? Secretary for Labour and Welfare: The Sham Shui Po Community Living Room is a project to showcase the effort by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government to tackle poverty in Hong Kong, in particular for those residents living in sub-divided units. The Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xia Baolong, is encouraged by what we do to help those in need, because what is available here in the Community Living Room is exactly what those living in poor conditions need, giving them space for gathering; for children, there is a space for them to study and also socialise. What is more important is to provide a shared pantry as well as common areas where they can do laundry and, if necessary, they can have a shower. This is a very concrete measure by the Government. For that, Director Xia fully agrees with what we do and he encourages us to push ahead with our effort and do more to help those in need. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
SLW visits Kwu Tung North Multi-welfare Services Complex (with photos/video)
7.2.2024

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, visited a residential care home for the elderly (RCHE) at the Kwu Tung North Multi-welfare Services Complex this afternoon (February 7). The Permanent Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Ms Alice Lau, also joined the visit. The eight-storey Kwu Tung North Multi-welfare Services Complex provides residential and community care services for the elderly people and persons with disabilities. One contract home, with 250 residential care places for the elderly, is housed on each of the first to the seventh floors, providing a total of 1 750 places, including nursing home places as well as care-and-attention places. Day Care Units for the Elderly are provided on the first and second floors. A Day Activity Centre cum Hostel for Severely Mentally Handicapped Persons and a Care and Attention Home for Severely Disabled Persons will be provided on the ground floor. The construction works of the Complex commenced in end-2019 and adopted the Modular Integrated Construction method. All seven RCHEs commenced service from August 2023. Mr Sun visited one of the RCHEs and was briefed by the operator on its daily operations as well as multidisciplinary nursing and care services. Mr Sun and other officials extended early Chinese New Year greetings to the elderly and participated in their festive activities. He also distributed fortune bags to the elderly in celebration of the Chinese New Year and wished them good health. In addition, Mr Sun and other officials took a closer look at the services and facilities of the RCHE. The Government provided gerontechnology facilities and products to the residential care homes (RCHs) in the Kwu Tung North Multi-welfare Services Complex, including contactless vital sign monitoring systems, monitoring systems with alarms for bed exit and fall detection, as well as intelligence robots for conducting scheduled room patrols and supporting virtual visits, with a view to integrating gerontechnology into the design of new RCHs to improve the quality of life of service users and the service efficiency of RCHs.
Transcript of remarks by SLW on confined space works
27.1.2024

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, on the prevention of accident in confined space works at a media session after attending a radio programme this morning (January 27): Reporter: Secretary, about labour safety, as you said the Code of Practice will be issued for those working in confined space, when will this be issued? How effective do you hope this will increase the safety? Secretary for Labour and Welfare: Our plan is to promulgate the revised "Code of Practice &ndash; Safety and Health at Work in Confined Spaces" within the first half of this year. This is our work plan. Right now, we have completed consultation with the stakeholders. We are looking at ways to refine and finalise the Code. One of the key changes to be made in the Code is to make use of technology. One idea, we think it is quite possible, is to require the installation of cameras at the entrance in confined spaces. Through cameras, there is literally no incentive for those working in confined spaces to cut corners, because all the entrances, their behaviour and equipment will be fully recorded by camera. By this way, we hope they will be able to make sure that people have every incentive to comply with all the safety requirements for working in confined spaces. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
SLW learns about Shanghai's experiences in elderly and talent policies (with photos)
14.1.2024

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, today (January 14) concluded his visit to Shanghai. Mr Sun first visited Healthy Garden in Xuhui District yesterday morning (January 13), and toured its supportive rental housing. He then visited an integrated community service centre for the elderly and the Elderly Care Service Station in Ganquan Road Sub-district to get a better grasp of their community care services and facilities promoting active ageing of the elderly (especially singletons and persons with disabilities) provided at their doorstep. Located mainly in residential districts, such service stations provide convenience for the elderly to age in place and receive day care and meal services. Social and recreational activities are also held to keep them active and healthy. Mr Sun also called on leaders of the China Welfare Institute at a lunch gathering and exchanged views on child care services in Shanghai and Hong Kong as well as relief measures to assist working families in childbearing to unleash their labour force. At the invitation of the Co-founder and Chairman of New Frontier Group, Mr Antony Leung, Mr Sun visited a community care station, a training school and the United Family Hospital (ChangNing) of the Group yesterday afternoon, taking a closer look at day care services for the elderly, training and professional accreditation for carers of elderly persons as well as the service model of medical and elderly care integration provided by multi-disciplinary teams respectively. Mr Sun had a dinner with the management of the Group and the Hospital, and had exchanges on drawing on Shanghai's experience to address the elderly care needs of Hong Kong's ageing society. This morning, accompanied by the Director of Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE), Mr Anthony Lau, Mr Sun visited the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Shanghai of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and was briefed on the work progress of its Dedicated Team for Attracting Businesses and Talent, followed by exchanges with local talent. He thanked the Dedicated Team for its proactive support to HKTE's work, and encouraged colleagues to deepen areas of co-operation and act in concert with the external promotion of Hong Kong's strengths to proactively attract global talent from diverse backgrounds to come and settle in Hong Kong and develop their careers. Prior to his departure, Mr Sun attended a gathering with Hong Kong people in Shanghai and updated them on the latest developments of Hong Kong's labour and welfare policy initiatives, and learned more about their needs while working and pursuing their development in Shanghai. Mr Sun will arrive in Hong Kong this evening.