Following is the video speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Opening Ceremony of Asian Family Summit 2024 today (December 27):
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning, and welcome to Hong Kong.
I am delighted to welcome you to the Asian Family Summit, as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the International Year of the Family. The International Year of the Family was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989. Throughout the years, the proclamation and relevant policies have helped to create equality within families, and fostered more harmonious family relations.
Families are the building block of society. Indeed, families face different challenges stemming from changes in the social, economic, environmental and technological landscapes. That's why I find the theme of this Summit, "Towards a Better Tomorrow for Families: Partnership, Collaboration & Action for Sustainable Development", most suitable for us in addressing the key issues facing our families.
I am pleased that experts from the United Nations, as well as different sectors in Hong Kong and across Asia, are joining us in this worthy cause. Over the coming three days, you will share your insights on the sustainable development of families. I am confident that you will find inspiration from each other, as well as the diverse programmes planned by the organisers.
The Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government attaches importance to enhancing the well-being of families, and strives to build a harmonious society for all. Our Family Council, which celebrates its 17th anniversary this year, is a cross-disciplinary platform that promotes a culture of loving families in the community.
Advancing family well-being is a vision embraced by the entire community, and we are committed to working with all stakeholders to cultivate a pro-family environment in Hong Kong. Our latest initiatives, in partnership with the Family Council, include supporting the community in launching family education projects of an extended scope. We will also organise the Hong Kong Excellent Family Awards next year, to promote good family values among the general public.
As announced in my Policy Address this October, we will strengthen parental education by setting up new Community Parents and Children Centres in different parts of the city. The Centres will promote interaction between parents and their children, and cultivate parents' positive parenting skills.
We have also tasked the new District Services and Community Care Teams, set up by the current term of the Government, to provide more support to families and carers. Our Social Welfare Department has been training different Care Teams in identifying and reaching out to households in need. We believe that this could help to identify, at an early stage, elderly persons, their carers, as well as other families with social welfare needs, and facilitate the referral to suitable services.
The building of a more caring and inclusive society for all families requires the effort of not only the Government, but also all sectors of the community. To the organisers of this Summit – the Consortium of Institutes on Family in the Asian Region, the Social Welfare Department, the Family Council, the Connecting Hearts, the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Council of Social Service – I thank you all for your efforts in bringing together this international gathering, as well as your dedication to the healthy development of families.
For our guests from the Mainland and overseas, do take the opportunity to explore the beauty and vibrancy of Hong Kong.
I wish this Summit a great success and all of you a healthy year ahead. Thank you very much.
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