The Home Affairs Department held the “Multicultural Carnival in Celebration of the 27th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) cum Kick-off Ceremony for Ethnic Minority Care Teams” yesterday (28/7). The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, and the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, officiated at the ceremony, announcing the official launch of the first eight Ethnic Minority Care Teams (EM Care Teams) and sharing with the ethnic minority community the joy of the 27th anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to the motherland.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan said that the Government spares no effort in building an inclusive and caring society. The Chief Executive announced a series of new support measures in his Policy Address last year, including the establishment of EM Care Teams and setting up two additional support service centres for ethnic minorities. He introduced the role and work of EM Care Teams and said that the Government was pressing ahead with setting up two new centres for ethnic minorities. He expected that the two new centres, together with two more dedicated EM Care Teams, would come into service by year’s end.

Other officiating guests were the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Ms Shirley Lam, the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung, the Director of Home Affairs, Mrs Alice Cheung, the Director of Broadcasting, Mr Eddie Cheung and representatives from the non-governmental organisations responsible for operating the support service centres for ethnic minorities.

There were also exciting performances by different ethnic groups at the event, including dances, musical instruments and martial arts. Game booths with ethnic minority cultural characteristics were set up on-site, helping everyone to learn to build a caring and inclusive community.

After the ceremony, Mr Chan and Miss Mak visited an ethnic minority family in Kwai Chung to understand their daily lives and needs as well as introduce the services of the EM Care Teams. Mr Chan and Miss Mak then visited a support service centre for ethnic minorities (LINK Centre) in Kwai Chung to observe the activities organised by the Centre, including language classes, youth activities, drawing workshops and cooking classes etc.

We hope that everyone will strongly support the work of the support service centres for ethnic minority and EM Care Teams; and work together with the Government to build a more harmonious and inclusive Hong Kong. Let’s take a look at the video clip and photos!