Chief Secretary and Commission on Poverty Chairperson Chan Kwok-ki officiated at the Sham Shui Po Community Living Room opening ceremony this afternoon to officially start the first project under the Pilot Programme on Community Living Room.

Located on 1/F, 188 Fuk Wa Street, the project will operate for three years and is expected to serve at least 500 sub-divided unit households, with about 80,000 attendances a year.

It will provide facilities such as a reception area, interview rooms and a communal living room for doing homework, holding interest classes and group activities as well as shared cooking equipment and a dining area for beneficiary households to cook, dine and mingle.

Additional facilities including a self-service laundry, shower cubicles, children's corner and reading room, sports facilities and a case interview room are also available.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan said the current-term Government has always attached great importance to the well-being of the grassroots and brought together the strengths of the Government, the business sector and the community to enhance their sense of contentment and happiness.

He expects the Sham Shui Po Community Living Room to meet grassroots families’ daily living needs and social activities, thereby improving their quality of life.

On behalf of the Government, Mr Chan also thanked Sino Group and the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation for providing the venue, and operator the Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society, Kowloon.