癸巳年 - 保良局

Ms Leung, Dr Cheng, Advisory Board Members, Directors, ladies and gentlemen,It is my great honour to join you today at the Inauguration Ceremony of Po Leung Kuk’s Board of Directors 2013-14 and to administerthe oath of office for the incoming Board members. First of all, may I take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to theoutgoing Board for their valuable contributions and extend my congratulations to the new Board.This year, Po Leung Kuk is set to celebrate its 135th anniversary. For more than a century, the Kuk stays vibrant and dynamic to sustaina steady growth. This owes much to the dedication and commitment of successive Boards to upholding the fine tradition and charitablecause of the Kuk.In Hong Kong, the Kuk’s motto “protecting the young and the innocent” is well recognised and its highly diversified portfolio of widerangingsocial services as well as adoption, education, recreational and cultural services have won popularity. I am pleased to see thatthe Kuk has scaled new heights at the helm of Ms Leung and her Board over the past year.With an ageing population, Hong Kong is faced with a rising demand for elderly services. The fact that Po Leung Kuk operates thelargest number of government’s contract elderly homes bears testimony to the Kuk’s commitment to elderly services. But in pursuit ofadvancement, other than well-equipped facilities, the Kuk also attaches great importance to the quality of life of the elderly, catering toindividual needs by offering all-round services. Last year, the Kuk continued expansion on this front. It opened its eighth contractelderly home in Tai Kok Tsui and was planning the ninth home in Sai Ying Pun. Also, its self-financed centre for the elderly in Kwun Tongwill soon be in full operation. Besides, the Kuk established an Integrated Health Centre in Mongkok last November. The health centrehas not only provided quality and affordable medical services to users of the Kuk's elderly centres but has also enhanced the healthcareand health education in the elderly residential homes. The Kuk’s endeavours to care for the elderly are indeed worthy of high praise.Po Leung Kuk also places great attention to education. It operates more than 120 educational units from kindergartens, primary andsecondary schools to community college. Apart from providing quality education, the Kuk also seeks to foster the physical andemotional development of the young people. It continues to encourage the promotion of the Children and Youth Development Centrein Tsuen Wan and the Energetic Youth Club in Yuen Long which came into operation last year, with the aim of providing local youngpeople with a venue for leisure, learning and developing interests and talents. The Kuk has also further expanded the Leadership Campwhich has seen significant growth in recent years. Following the completion of the Leadership Training Base at the Kuk’s Jockey Club TaiTong Holiday Camp, funded with grants from the Chief Executive’s Community Project List, leadership training for young people will befurther enhanced. With its commitment to quality facilities and services for the youth, I am confident the Kuk will make many morecontributions to the community of Hong KongMoving with the times, the Kuk has been introducing the services required to meet the needs of the people. It has been activelyresponding to the government’s efforts to tackle poverty by helping the socially-disadvantaged to become self-reliant and improvetheir livelihood. Indeed, this hall and the outdoor areas will be turned into the Po Leung Kuk Flea Market on two Sundays every month.With just a nominal rent of $10 a day, people from the grassroots may have a booth to do their own business. It is a creative idea of theKuk to make full use of its resources and take advantage of the location of Causeway Bay to help the grassroots in a practical way.Furthermore, the Kuk has since last year operated projects under the Integrated Employment Assistance Programme for Self-reliance infour districts to provide the needy with employment counselling, skills training and job opportunities. The Kuk’s Charity Fund for theDisadvantaged and the Medical Assistance Fund also provide timely assistance to those with financial difficulties.The Kuk has made tremendous achievements ranging from poverty alleviation to elderly and youth services, winning wide recognitionfrom the community, best demonstrated by its success in raising about $250 million last year.I know that Dr Cheng and the incoming Board already have big plans in mind for the year ahead. The government will support andfacilitate whatever services and new programmes that can benefit the public. I am sure you will uphold the Kuk’s fine tradition tosupport a social cause for the benefits of the community. May I wish the Kuk and the new Board every success in your future endeavours.Thank you.Po Leung Kuk Inauguration Booklet For Board Of Directors 2013-2014 7