Transcript of remarks by SLW on enhanced integrated vocational and skills training services for persons with disabilities

     Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, on the proposed integrated vocational and skills training service model for persons with disabilities after attending a radio programme this morning (December 22):

Reporter: Mr Law, how do you respond to criticisms of lack of consultation with regards to the move of the Shine Skills Centre (Kwun Tong)? Can you tell us the new size and scope of service of the new centre for the disabled community, please? Thank you.

Secretary for Labour and Welfare: For all consultation, we have to find a right time to engage the appropriate stakeholders. In fact, if you take the whole development (Kwun Tong composite development project), it's a very comprehensive development area. That involves a very different number of stakeholders. In the past year, I have to say, we actually have engaged different stakeholders at the right time.

     When we haven't yet made a certain decision on the directions, the issue about consultation is not actually there. I have to say that, for this particular case like the Shine Skills Centre (Kwun Tong), the current cohort of trainees in the centre would not be affected, not even those who will be coming next year in 2019, they won't be affected either. It would not be possible, for a very preliminary idea, to engage the whole community of special school children on this particular development. So, I do think the approach that we have made and been trying to inform the community and the various stakeholders at the right time is appropriate.

Reporter: And also the size and the scope of service? Thank you.

Secretary for Labour and Welfare: For the scope of service, as I have mentioned last month, the new service will be a blended version of the existing Integrated Vocational Training Centres (subvented by Social Welfare Department) and the Shine Skills Centres (operated by Vocational Training Council), which will have the advantage of both types of service. We have actually announced it on Friday (December 21) about the agreement that has been reached between the management of the Vocational Training Council and the Government.

     The direction will be able to enhance the number of trainings, particularly for those training that are tied with the Qualifications Framework; strengthen the post-training service, particularly in terms of employment support for one to at most three years (on a need basis) of follow-up services; and also some support services after they have graduated and come back for some improved/enhanced training ("up-skilling" or "re-skilling" courses). So, this direction has been agreed and the details have yet to be developed in the coming months.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)