Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki today officiated at the inaugural Family & Women Development Summit Hong Kong.

Themed “Women’s Strengths in Action, Family Values Across Generations”, the summit brought together various sectors of the community to exchange views on matters relating to women and families.

Guest speakers included officials from various regions, successful women from diverse sectors, members of families from a range of backgrounds, and representatives of non-governmental organisations.

The event attracted over 900 participants from local and Greater Bay Area women’s groups, the business sector, and relevant service organisations.

In his address, Mr Chan said that women have played a crucial role in driving Hong Kong’s social and economic development, and are as competent as men. He highlighted the outstanding accomplishments of Hong Kong women in various fields, providing.

Mr Chan added that women also play a unique role in respect of family development, and in fostering family education and values.

Noting that the National 14th Five-Year Plan highlights the need to strengthen family development and promote diversified family services, Mr Chan said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is focused on the healthy development of local families.

Delivering a keynote speech at the summit, Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak said that by pulling together the efforts of the Government, the business sector, and the community, it can offer a new platform for individuals to support the development of local families and women.

She said it will allow people from different sectors, backgrounds and cultures to share their experiences and insights, helping to stimulate new policy ideas.

At the summit, the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau announced the introduction of a three-year Maintenance Mediation Pilot Scheme, and the official launch of a one-stop family and women’s information portal. It also announced that a five-year “Funding Scheme on the Promotion of Family Education” will be launched on October 14 to support non-profit-making community projects that promote family education.

Exhibition booths at the venue showcased the achievements of women’s groups and family service organisations in promoting women’s development and family education.