Policy Address

Protecting Children

105. It is heart breaking to learn of child abuse cases in recent years. We will take forward at full steam the setting up of a mandatory reporting mechanism for child abuse cases by introducing a bill into the LegCo in the first half of 2023. We will also provide training for relevant practitioners to facilitate their early identification and reporting of child abuse cases. Furthermore, we have identified areas requiring focused efforts for improvement in residential child care services. We will improve service quality in a holistic manner, enhance service plan, strengthen law-enforcing inspections and engage independent persons to conduct unannounced inspections.

Empowering Women

106. In the next three years, we will substantially increase funding for organising activities to promote women development by the Women's Commission from $4 million to $10 million per annum. A Women Empowerment Fund will be set up to subsidise community projects that support women in balancing job and family commitments, and unleashing their potential.

Ethnic Minorities

107. To further enhance the support for ethnic minorities, we will recruit more ethnic minorities for appointment as Employment Assistants and General Assistants in the Labour Department, and set up a service centre on a trial basis to provide emotional support and counselling for ethnic minorities.