Elderly tourists from Hong Kong pose for photos in the Summer Palace in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 7, 2023. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government plans to provide childcare and afterschool care for parents in the new semester, enhance elderly support in the community and build a cleaner and safer city to boost residents’ well-being said Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki on Wednesday.

The new initiatives, spanning five issues, were discussed during the first meeting of the city’s steering committee on district governance on Wednesday, established as part of the SAR government’s overhaul of its district governance system. Another major effort to beef up district governance lies in reforming the city’s District Council to return it to its advisory role, which was passed on July 5.

In addition, the government will improve hygienic conditions of the city’s wet markets and strengthen inspections of toilets and streets, as well as rodent control

Chan said 3,000 afterschool care places will be provided at 50 primary schools in five districts including Kowloon City, Kwun Tong and Kwai Tsing, starting next semester. With such a service, parents, particularly single parents, will be able to go out to work and improve their lives, Chan said. The service will be run by NGOs, using the premises of primary schools.

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Another issue revolves around better care for the elderly. The government will strengthen community-based support by optimizing sports facilities in the community and ensuring umbrellas and hiking sticks can be loaned out at major parks, he added. 

In addition, the government will improve hygienic conditions of the city’s wet markets and strengthen inspections of toilets and streets, as well as rodent control. The meeting also touched on improving the level of law and order, cracking down on crime in an all-encompassing way and improving pedestrian facilities and road safety, Chan added. 

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The needs in every district vary, Chan said, pledging that the government will listen to the concerns of the public through district organizations such as district councils and the committee, together with policy bureaus, will respond by providing more appropriate services to residents.

Contact the writer at mikegu@chinadailyhk.com