Taste test: Financial Secretary Henry Tang inspects a cooking class at the Employment Development Services' Human Resources Training Centre.

Financial Secretary Henry Tang visited Wong Tai Sin today for an update on the district's latest developments.

He first visited the Employment Development Services' Human Resources Training Centre in Lower Wong Tai Sin Estate. He inspected a catering servers retraining class, a Western-style cooking class under the Youth Pre-employment Training Programme, and a language training class.

At a tea gathering with a group of trainees, Mr Tang encouraged them to face the challenges brought by economic restructuring upfront through continuous education and to maintain a positive attitude.

Poverty alleviation

Mr Tang said the Government estimates the new Private Vehicle Registration Mark Scheme will generate net revenue of $60 million a year. For the next five years, the Government will set aside $60 million each year for poverty alleviation work, half of which will be used to reinforce work in preventing and alleviating poverty at the district level.

In 2006-07, the Government has allocated $30 million for district-based poverty alleviation projects. Mr Tang said the programmes can mobilise community resources more effectively, offer support to district-based solutions and address local needs more precisely, and create employment opportunities and support services on a more sustainable basis.