CE chairs summit on disability inclusion (with photo)

     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, chaired the Summit on Disability Inclusion today (November 24). Stakeholders of the rehabilitation sector and employer representatives shared their views and experiences in promoting the employment of persons with disabilities and their participation in arts in a panel discussion on building a disability inclusive society.

     About 500 guests attended the summit, including members of the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee (RAC) and its Sub-committees, Working Groups and Task Forces as well as various stakeholders from self-help organisations of persons with disabilities, parent/carer groups, schools council, arts groups, the business sector and non-governmental organisations. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, as well as Principal Officials, Under Secretaries and Heads of Departments of relevant policy areas also participated in the summit.

     Following the opening remarks by the Chief Executive on building a disability inclusive society was a panel discussion presided by the Chairperson of the Rehabilitation Programme Plan Review Working Group, Mr Fung Pak-yan, and Hong Kong wheelchair fencing athlete, Miss Yu Chui-yee. Speakers included the Chairperson of the Direction Association for the Handicapped, Ms Rabi Yim; the Director of Corporate Affairs and Philanthropies of Microsoft Hong Kong Limited, Ms Ada Ng; the Chairperson of the Arts with the Disabled Association Hong Kong, Ms Ida Lam; an Executive Officer of the Government, Miss Agatha Ng; and two artists with disabilities, Ms Lo Pui-yung and Mr Wong Wing-hong. They exchanged views and shared their experience from different perspectives on promoting the employment of persons with disabilities and their participation in arts.

     In the second half of the summit, Mrs Lam; Mr Cheung; the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong; the Secretary for Food and Health, Professor Sophia Chan; and the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, exchanged ideas with participating guests on policies and measures to promote the well-beings of persons with disabilities. Views on a variety of issues related to persons with disabilities were expressed enthusiastically.

     The Chief Executive proposed in 2017 to hold Chief Executive Summits on important policy areas. The Summit on Disability Inclusion today is the fourth summit she chaired since assuming office, during which she directly listened to views of the sector and stakeholders, enhancing liaison and communication between policy bureaux/departments concerned on disability affairs within the Government and relevant stakeholders.

     The summit also marked the start of the second stage of a public engagement exercise on "Formulation of Recommendations" for the formulation of a new Hong Kong Rehabilitation Programme Plan (RPP). The public consultation period of the "Formulation of Recommendations" Stage will commence on December 5, 2018, and last until April 4, 2019. The RAC will hold four public consultation sessions in early December 2018 and a number of seminars in the first quarter of 2019 to collect views from stakeholders, with a view to mapping out the strategic directions and recommendations of the new RPP.