All ears: Financial Secretary Henry Tang (centre) and members of the Commission on Poverty listen to Tin Shui Wai residents on their special needs and challenges.

Financial Secretary Henry Tang has called on communities to identify solutions to their unique challenges by mobilising local resources and promoting public-private sector partnership.

Mr Tang today joined members of the Commission on Poverty to visit the Tin Shui Community Centre and was briefed on the Intensive Employment Assistance Projects organised by the YWCA Tin Shui Wai Integrated Social Service Centre.

A group of participants, including Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients and other low-income families, shared with the visitors the challenges they faced and their experiences in the projects.

Encouraging results

Mr Tang was impressed by the encouraging results of the projects in motivating the participants and equipping them with relevant employment-related skills.

"I am happy to know that about half of the participants have been able to secure full-time employment within one year," he said.

"This shows that by mobilising resources in the community and promoting public-private sector partnership, communities can identify solutions to address the unique challenges faced by their own members."

The visiting delegation later joined an open forum with about 30 district personalities, including District Councillors, Area Committee members, representatives of community organisations, social workers and school headmasters from Yuen Long.

Views exchanged

Commission members listened to the observations of the Tin Shui Wai community on the special needs and challenges faced by residents.

They also exchanged views with community representatives on how these challenges could be overcome and what types of additional assistance would be required to ensure its success.

This is the first district visit of the commission after members agreed, at their first meeting on February 18, to adopt a district-based approach to study, identify and address the special needs and challenges of different Hong Kong areas.