CE Engages with Sham Shui Po Residents on Healthcare and Elderly Services During District Visit

CE visits Sham Shui Po District to gather public views on Policy Address

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, visited Sham Shui Po District today (August 26). He toured a public housing estate and an elderly centre to listen to the views of members of the public on the 2026 Policy Address. He also visited the 1823 Contact Centre in Sham Shui Po District.

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau; the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Director of Home Affairs, Ms Priscilla To; and the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To, also joined relevant parts of the visit.

Accompanied by the District Officer (Sham Shui Po), Mr Oscar Wong, Mr Lee visited Un Chau Estate, where he met with an elderly resident to learn about her use of services from ambulatory care centres. Mr Lee said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been actively promoting ambulatory care services, under which suitable patients may undergo examinations and treatment with multidisciplinary support within the same day, without the need for an overnight hospital stay, before returning home to rest. Ambulatory care services help reduce unnecessary hospitalisation and provide patients with more convenient treatment and services. This could enhance the service capacity and efficiency of the public healthcare system, so that more members of the public may receive appropriate services at an early stage.

Mr Lee had earlier visited Kwong Wah Hospital to learn about the operation of its Ambulatory Orthopaedic Service Centre and the hospital's application of innovative technologies. He said that the HKSAR Government is committed to deepening healthcare reform and enhancing the quality and efficiency of public healthcare services, including the application of AI technologies in hospitals to enhance the accuracy and speed of clinical diagnoses, so that patients may receive appropriate treatment sooner. He said that the Government will continue to promote the digital upgrading of the healthcare system and actively introduce innovative technologies to further enhance the standard of public healthcare services.

Mr Lee then visited the Un Chau Estate Baptist Church Elderly Centre to learn about the various types of activities and services provided by the centre to enrich the lives of its elderly users. He said that the Government has long upheld the principle of ageing in place as the core, and has continued to strengthen support for elderly persons, including increasing the total number of Community Care Service Vouchers for the Elderly and adding three Neighbourhood Elderly Centres in last year's Policy Address to strengthen district support for the elderly.

Mr Lee then visited the 1823 Contact Centre to learn how the centre applies AI technologies to expedite the handling of public enquiries, requests for assistance and complaints. He said that 1823 has been actively applying various AI technologies in receiving and analysing public enquiries, assigning cases, analysing data and so on, so as to respond more quickly to requests for assistance and complaints from members of the public. He has asked the Digital Policy Office to continue leading 1823 in actively applying AI and other innovative technologies to continuously enhance efficiency.

Mr Lee said that the current-term Government is committed to turning policy blueprints into tangible outcomes in developing the economy and improving people's livelihood. Through district visits and meaningful exchanges with members of the public, the Government can better understand their needs and aspirations, and the insights gained will help formulate new policy initiatives. He said that he and his team will continue to listen to views from various sectors of society, so that policy measures could better address livelihood needs and the Government could dedicate its efforts in striving for a vibrant economy, pursuing development and improving people's livelihood.

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee (second left), earlier visited Kwong Wah Hospital to hear an introduction by the Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, Dr Libby Lee (right), on the hospital's application of innovative technologies. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee (second right), earlier visited Kwong Wah Hospital to learn about the operation of its Ambulatory Orthopaedic Service Centre and to interact with a patient. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, visited Sham Shui Po District today (August 26) to gather public views on Policy Address. Photo shows Mr Lee (front row, left), visiting the 1823 Contact Centre to learn how the centre applies AI technologies to expedite the handling of public enquiries, requests for assistance and complaints. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, visited Sham Shui Po District today (August 26) to gather public views on Policy Address. Photo shows Mr Lee (centre), accompanied by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong (first left), visiting the 1823 Contact Centre to learn how the centre applies AI technologies to expedite the handling of public enquiries, requests for assistance and complaints. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, visited Sham Shui Po District today (August 26) to gather public views on Policy Address. Photo shows Mr Lee (third right) interacting with a member of the public at Un Chau Estate. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, visited Sham Shui Po District today (August 26) to gather public views on Policy Address. Photo shows Mr Lee (second right) interacting with a member of the public at Un Chau Estate.Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, visited Sham Shui Po District today (August 26) to gather public views on Policy Address. Photo shows Mr Lee (front row, sixth right), accompanied by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak (front row, third right), visiting an elderly centre and interacting with the centre users. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, visited Sham Shui Po District today (August 26) to gather public views on Policy Address. Photo shows Mr Lee (fourth right), accompanied by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak (fourth left), visiting an elderly centre and interacting with the centre users. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, visited Sham Shui Po District today (August 26) to gather public views on Policy Address. Photo shows Mr Lee (centre), accompanied by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak (first right), visiting an elderly centre and interacting with the centre users. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, visited Sham Shui Po District today (August 26) to gather public views on Policy Address. Photo shows Mr Lee (first left) interacting with a member of the public at Un Chau Estate. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, visited Sham Shui Po District today (August 26) to gather public views on Policy Address. Photo shows Mr Lee (third right), accompanied by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau (second left), and the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak (second right), visiting an elderly resident in Un Chau Estate to learn about her use of services from ambulatory care centres. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, visited Sham Shui Po District today (August 26) to gather public views on Policy Address. Photo shows Mr Lee (centre), accompanied by the Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau (second left), and the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak (first left), visiting an elderly resident in Un Chau Estate to learn about her use of services from ambulatory care centres. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speech by SCST at Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra "Welcome Tarmo Reception"

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) "Welcome Tarmo Reception" today (November 7):

David (Chairman of Board of Governors of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Society, Mr David Cogman), Tarmo (Music Director of the HK Phil, Mr Tarmo Peltokoski), Vincent (Chairman of the Chow Sang Sang Group, Mr Vincent Chow), ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening. I have the greatest pleasure to join you at this reception to officially welcome our new Music Director, Tarmo Peltokoski. I say welcome, but of course, Tarmo is already a familiar and highly respected figure among our musicians and audiences. Tonight's reception is a formal introduction, but really, it should feel even more like a homecoming party.

First, let me propose that once again we give a good round of applause to Tarmo and all the talented instrumentalists, vocalists and choristers, from Hong Kong and overseas for the stunning performance of Mahler's Symphony No. 8 just now. The performance was a magnificent close to the HK Phil's complete Mahler cycle; but it was also a splendid fanfare for the new era under Maestro Tarmo's baton.

Great artistic synergy takes time to build, yet today it felt entirely natural. Tarmo first sparked this chemistry as the HK Phil's Guest Conductor in 2023, strengthened it as Music Director Designate last season, and he now finally steps into his new role with deep familiarity and well-honed artistry. Tonight's concert is a brilliant showcase of Tarmo's assured stage performance, exceptional conducting prowess, and seamless teamwork with the HK Phil's talented musicians. Just now I told Winnie (Vice-Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Society, Ms Winnie Tam), if I were a choir member, I would also be very, very happy to work with a conductor like Tarmo.

I am fully confident that this strong partnership will elevate the HK Phil to new heights and enrich Hong Kong's vibrant cultural scene. The Hong Kong SAR Government proudly supports the HK Phil in its further effort to solidify its role as a cultural flagship of our city. Together, we will project Hong Kong's artistic brilliance on the global stage, reinforcing our position as an East-meets-West cultural exchange centre.

As a music lover myself, please allow me to express my warmest thanks to Tarmo and all the musicians for an unforgettable orchestral feast. Here is to a new era for the HK Phil - one filled abundantly with breathtaking music, rewarding projects, and exciting milestones ahead. Tonight is just a remarkable beginning, and the best is yet to come.

Let us all enjoy the rest of this delightful evening. Do keep your eyes and ears open. I'm told there will be surprise bonus encore performances during the reception, and I, for one, definitely won't want to miss them. Thank you very much.

Source: AI-found images