Community and Neighbourhood

49.       Mutual concern and mutual aid among neighbours is a strong support for families. We encourage community building and friendly neighbourhoods. There are individual new towns where inadequacies occurred in the course of past development, resulting in imbalances in certain aspects of community development. These imbalances meant that we were unable to provide a suitably favourable environment for the development of healthy families. Tin Shui Wai and Tung Chung are two such examples. We will pay particular attention to these districts and develop additional facilities. In Tin Shui Wai, we will be providing, among other facilities, a library, an indoor recreation centre with an indoor heated swimming pool, a football pitch, basketball courts, more open space and a general out-patient clinic. For Tung Chung, we will be providing a library, indoor recreation centres, swimming pool and other leisure facilities. To cater for the needs of Tin Shui Wai, the Social Welfare Department has strengthened its integrated services. Furthermore, the Labour Department’s two job centres in Yuen Long and North District have commenced operation to provide comprehensive employment services. We welcome any views, and will actively study any proposals, to invigorate healthy economic growth in local communities. In future, the Government will allocate resources according to the different conditions in the districts, and strengthen district planning and co-ordination. In mobilising community resources and building mutual support networks at district level, the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF) has brought about new models of collaboration. At this juncture, our heartfelt gratitude goes to the late Dr Raymond Wu, the former Chairman of the CIIF Committee, who made important contributions to this cause. He will be long remembered. We believe that with sustained efforts, continuous improvements will be made at the district level to the living conditions of families.

50.   The Heung Yee Kuk has always played an important role in New Territories affairs. In particular, it has made significant contributions to preserving traditional clan and family values. To better co-ordinate our work with the Heung Yee Kuk, we have set up Home Affairs Bureau–Heung Yee Kuk Liaison Committee in mid-2006. We believe that through meetings and discussions, the distinct characteristics of rural communities will be fully considered in the formulation of public policies.