Policy Address

167. Mastering the Chinese language is essential for ethnic minorities to integrate into the community. Two years ago, the Government started to implement the Chinese Language Curriculum Second Language Learning Framework in primary and secondary schools. From the next school year, the Government will provide additional resources for eligible kindergartens admitting eight or more non-Chinese speaking students, with a view to helping these students build a good foundation of Chinese language skills.

168. The Government has been actively promoting the employment of persons with disabilities for the past few years. Apart from encouraging employers to employ more persons with disabilities, the Government has procured services from a nongovernmental welfare organisation to strengthen counselling support for job seekers with disabilities. We have also made use of the Community Care Fund (CCF) to encourage persons with disabilities to work and enhance support to the carers of persons with disabilities. The review of the Disability Allowance (DA) has been completed and the relevant improvement measures are being implemented progressively.

169. In late 2015, the Government rolled out a two-year pilot scheme on On-site Pre-school Rehabilitation Services. The scheme provides training for about 2 900 children with special needs at the kindergartens or kindergartens-cum-child care centres they attend. The Government has earmarked an annual recurrent expenditure of $460 million to convert the scheme into a regular government subsidy programme after its conclusion. The programme will provide 7 000 places in phases with the ultimate aim of reducing the waiting time.

Contents | Next