Hong Kong – DCS chairs fifth meeting of Task Force on District Governance (with photos)

     The Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, chaired the fifth meeting of the Task Force on District Governance today (August 21) to follow up on the initiatives endorsed by the Steering Committee on District Governance. The meeting co-ordinated the preparatory work of various bureaux and departments for the celebration of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and the implementation progress of eight district issues.
 
     Mr Cheuk said, “This year’s October 1 anniversary marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the PRC, which holds great commemorative value and significance. I am pleased to note that the preparatory work of various bureaux and departments has entered the final stage. They will launch a series of celebratory activities rich in content and diversity around National Day this year, and mobilise the support and collaboration of different sectors and organisations in the community. Members of the public will definitely be able to bask in a colourful and enthusiastic National Day atmosphere, and share in the joy of National Day together.”

    The Steering Committee chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration has formulated an enhanced mechanism to handle some common complaints at the district level, and strategies in relation to eight district issues, covering areas of support for children and the elderly, environmental hygiene, law and order, road safety, pedestrian facilities and estate environment, as well as digital inclusion. The Task Force continued to follow up on the implementation details and progress of the relevant items at this meeting as follows:
 
(1) Expanding after-school care service and enhancing support for parents
 
     The trial of the School-based After School Care Service Pilot Scheme will be extended to the 2024/25 school year and 100 primary schools in 18 districts, providing a total of 6 000 service places.
 
(2) Caring for the elderly and enhancing community support
 
     The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) is gradually adding about 60 sets of covered seats to outdoor venues in 18 districts to promote active ageing in the community. This year, the LCSD will also organise about 80 free Briefings on Outdoor Fitness Training for about 2 000 participants, targeting mainly the elderly.
 
     Under the Social Welfare Department’s pilot scheme, as at the end of this July, the District Services and Community Care Teams of Tsuen Wan and Southern Districts have visited and contacted more than 3 600 households of singleton and doubleton elderly persons, as well as carers of elderly persons and persons with disabilities, and continue to provide follow-up caring and support services.
 
(3) Fostering clean markets and mobilising the community to participate in anti-rodent work
 
     The Task Force continues to actively follow up on the elimination of individual hygiene blackspots. As regards improving the environment of public markets, the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) will complete six toilet improvement projects in markets or cooked food markets by the end of 2024, and an additional 26 toilet improvement projects in 2024-26. The FEHD is about to complete the stall improvement works on a trial basis at the Queen Street Cooked Food Market, and plans to continue implementing the Market Modernisation Programme in 2025.
 
     In terms of strengthening anti-rodent work, starting from this year, the FEHD has fully adopted thermal imaging cameras with artificial intelligence technology to conduct Rodent Activity Surveys. The survey for the first half of this year has been completed, and the overall Rodent Absence Rate of the territory is 95.1 per cent.
 
(4) Enhancing public order and combating crimes on all fronts
 
     Police plan to install closed-circuit television in 615 locations with higher crime figures and busier pedestrian traffic across districts to serve as a deterrent against and an aid in the investigation of street crimes. As at this August, over 250 installations have been completed in various districts. The target is to complete 2 000 installations in 2025.
 
     Police also conducted a number of Operations Levington in the first half of this year, in which they raided a number of venues across the territory and cracked down on money laundering syndicates, illegal gambling establishments, arms depots, drug warehouses and illegal petrol filling stations with notable results.

(5) Improving pedestrian facilities and ensuring road safety
 
     The Highways Department (HyD) is expanding the repaving of footpaths. Among the 40 sections planned for repaving, works on 33 sections already completed. The Transport Department is installing auxiliary pedestrian crossing devices with red light-beam projections at pedestrian crossing black spots in various districts, with devices at 58 locations installed and commissioned. Installation at the remaining 42 locations will be completed within 2024.
 
(6) Enhancing the walking experience for citizens and creating a pedestrian-friendly environment
 
     The HyD has selected 36 footbridges and pedestrian subways in 18 districts for renovation and beautification works. For the first 18 structures, the beautification designs have been completed, with expected completion by the end of this year. The HyD has also selected 10 suitable locations for installing bench railings for citizens to sit and rest on a trial basis. The installation is expected to be completed within this year.
 
(7) Improving the environment of public housing estates and creating comfortable homes
 
     The Housing Department has preliminarily reviewed the peripheral environment of 15 public rental housing estates, and has commenced improvement works and design work for areas within the estates.
 
(8) Caring for the elderly and promoting digital inclusion

     The Digital Policy Office has launched in mid-August this year an open invitation for institutions/organisations to submit project proposals for the Digital Inclusion Programme for the Elderlies, with a view to commencing the first batch of projects by the end of this year. The entire programme targets to benefit at least 100 000 elderly persons.

     Mr Cheuk received reports from the relevant Heads of Departments on their work. He urged departments and District Councils to actively follow up on the various district initiatives of community interests under the refined district governance structure, with a view to enhancing the sense of achievement and satisfaction of the people.