Chief Secretary and Vice Chairman of the Preparatory Task Force (PTF) on the Commission on Poverty Ms Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet Ngor visited Heep Hong Society Mary Wong Centre today (30 August 2012). Joining her were Mr Matthew Cheung Kin Chung, Secretary for Labour and Welfare and Dr Law Chi Kwong, also member of the Task Force.

They met with more than 20 members of Heep Hong Parents’ Association to hear their needs and demands for pre-school children with special needs. The meeting was facilitated by Chairman of the Executive Committee of Heep Hong Society Dr Henry Au Yeung, and Director Ms Nancy Tsang.

Ms Tsang said, “Parents are glad to have the opportunity to have direct dialogues with Chief Secretary and the Commission on Poverty to voice their deep concern over the acute shortage of support services for special needs children."

Parents have stated in concrete terms their demands and suggestions on a range of issues including the long waiting time for special child care services, subsidies from the Community Care Fund, free education for pre-school children, the manpower plan and training of health care and special child care professionals.

Ms Tsang believed that the meeting was a good start and hoped the government would take immediate measures to address the urgent needs and draw up a timetable to ensure timely support is delivered to children with special needs and their families.