​政務司司長出席「多元文化慶回歸嘉年華暨少數族裔關愛隊啟動禮」致辭

以下是政務司司長陳國基今日（七月二十八日）出席「多元文化慶回歸嘉年華暨少數族裔關愛隊啟動禮」的致辭：

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
 
A warm welcome to our multicultural carnival and kick-off ceremony for Ethnic Minority Care Teams. 
 
Hong Kong has long been a vibrant multicultural metropolis, which more than 300 000 ethnic minority residents call home. Not only have they enriched our city’s cultural diversity, but they have also contributed to its development in many ways.
 
The Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government spares no effort in building a caring and inclusive society. Our support for ethnic minorities is wide-ranging – from education and employment to welfare, healthcare and community integration. 
 
The Chief Executive, in his Policy Address last year, announced a series of new support measures. They include setting up dedicated Care Teams, and additional support service centres, for ethnic minorities.
 
To that end, I am pleased to announce that eight Ethnic Minority Care Teams will be set up today. They will underpin the services provided by the eight existing government-funded support service centres for ethnic minorities. 
 
The Care Teams will visit ethnic minority households and stay in touch with them. Besides keeping them posted on the latest government information, the Care Teams will proactively find out and fulfil their needs with relevant services. If necessary, the Care Teams can also refer them to relevant government departments or organisations for follow-up. 
 
Meanwhile, our Government is setting up two additional support service centres for ethnic minorities – one in Kowloon Central, the other one in New Territories East – bringing the total to ten. We expect the two new centres, along with two more dedicated Care Teams, will come into service by year’s end.
 
With 10 centres in place by then, we will be able to cover all the major districts of ethnic minority communities in Hong Kong. In those centres, ethnic minorities can enjoy holistic support, which covers orientation programmes, language and after-school tutorials, community integration workshops, youth activities, counselling services, and much more. 
 
All in all, we are always here for members of our city’s ethnic minorities, helping them unleash their potential and realise their dreams.
 
And our support for ethnic minorities goes beyond Hong Kong. We are grateful for the Central Government’s recently announced measure for non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents – many ethnic minority residents included – to apply for designated Mainland travel permits (Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (Non-Chinese Citizens)). 
 
With these permits, they can easily go to the Mainland for tourism or business, enjoying self-service clearance and greater clearance efficiency at Mainland control points. 
 
The measure has been well received by ethnic minorities, I am pleased to say. Our Kowloon City and Yau Tsim Mong District Offices have organised designated sessions to help them apply for permits. Looking ahead, our dedicated Care Teams, and their affiliated support service centres, will also provide the necessary support.
 
Ladies and gentlemen, today’s carnival presents a variety of cultural performances and interactive game booths to celebrate the 27th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong SAR. I am sure you will enjoy it.
 
On that note, I look forward to the close collaboration between our Government and the Ethnic Minority Care Teams together with their affiliated support service centres. Let’s build a more harmonious and better Hong Kong together.
 
Now, I will say a few words in Chinese. 
 
很開心與各位一同出席「多元文化慶回歸嘉年華暨少數族裔關愛隊啟動禮」。
 
香港是一個充滿活力的國際大都會，現時有超過30萬名少數族裔人士。特區政府很重視構建關愛共融的社會，一直向少數族裔人士提供全方位的支援，涵蓋教育、就業、福利、醫療，以至融入社區等。
 
行政長官透過去年《施政報告》再下一城，宣布一系列新措施，其中兩項就是成立少數族裔關愛隊，以及增設少數族裔人士支援服務中心。
 
在這裏，我很開心向大家宣布，八支少數族裔關愛隊在今日正式成立，強化全港現有八間少數族裔人士支援服務中心的服務。這些專職專責的關愛隊，將會與少數族裔人士保持緊密聯繫，包括上門探訪，除了向他們發放政府最新信息之外，更重要的是主動了解他們的需要，向他們提供所需服務，並因應情況轉介至相關部門或機構去跟進。
 
同時，特區政府正全力推進增設兩間少數族裔人士支援服務中心的工作。兩間中心分別位於九龍中和新界東，預計今年年底啓用，到時多兩支少數族裔關愛隊亦會投入服務。屆時，一共10間支援服務中心將會涵蓋全港少數族裔人士的主要聚居地方。
 
我們希望，所有在香港生活的少數族裔朋友，都會視香港為你們的家，在這裏盡展所長、成就夢想。
 
我們亦很感謝中央積極回應特區政府的建議，最近宣布非中國籍的香港永久性居民可以申請《來往內地通行證》（《港澳居民來往內地通行證（非中國籍）》），讓他們「一卡在手」，就可以享受自助通關的便利。我們會繼續為少數族裔朋友，做好相關的推廣和支援工作。
 
我充滿信心，特區政府聯同所有少數族裔關愛隊和少數族裔人士支援服務中心，將會攜手並肩，建設更和諧、更美好的香港。
 
最後，我希望大家好好享受今日這個多元文化嘉年華，一起慶祝香港特區成立27周年。多謝大家。

（轉載自香港特別行政區政府新聞公報）