SCMA visits Sham Shui Po District (with photos)

     The Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Patrick Nip, visited Sham Shui Po District this afternoon (August 22). He toured a community service organisation and a creative arts centre in the district, and also met with members of the Sham Shui Po District Council (SSPDC).
 
     Mr Nip first paid a visit to a community service organisation dedicated to helping the underprivileged. He met with some new arrivals to learn about their life and needs after coming to live in Hong Kong, and outlined the Government's services and assistance rendered to them to facilitate their integration into society.
 
     Mr Nip then visited the Jockey Club Creative Arts Centre, where he toured two studios specialising in fabric flower creation and photography. Meeting the studio artists, Mr Nip listened to them speak on their creative careers in Hong Kong and on their experiences in organising different kinds of creative arts activities. They also exchanged views on promoting creativity at the community level. The centre supports over 140 artists and art organisations through providing venues for creative work and performances. It also organises a wide array of activities, such as interest classes, exhibitions and performances, to nurture creative talents and promote arts and culture in the community.
 
     Mr Nip said he was impressed by the artists' passion towards art creation and encouraged them to continue unleashing their creativity. "Hong Kong is Asia's world city and embraces both Eastern and Western cultures. This provides the fertile soil for the development of our cultural and creative industries. The Government has all along been generous in devoting resources for supporting the growth of Hong Kong's cultural and creative industries. With the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, creative talents in Hong Kong will surely have bigger room to fulfil their potential," he said.
 
     Mr Nip also met with the Chairman of the SSPDC, Mr Ambrose Cheung, and members of the SSPDC to exchange views on district and community affairs.