Hong Kong gets a new children’s commission
Panel, promised by Chief Executive Carrie Lam on the campaign trail, to look at children’s education needs and initiatives for ethnic minority children, including learning Chinese as a second language
Hong Kong’s government has set up a children’s commission, delivering on an election campaign pledge of the city leader and promising a “responsive and high-level body” working for the benefit of young residents.
The long-awaited panel, to be chaired by Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung and vice-chaired by Secretary for Labour and Welfare Dr Law Chi-kwong, will start work from Friday. It will target the needs of people aged below 18, with a focus on children aged 14 or below, according to a government spokesman.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor announced the creation of the commission in her policy address in October, having promised to bring it about while campaigning for the top job.
According to the proposal by a preparatory committee, the commission might consider covering several issues in its initial work plan: children’s education needs, including help with special educational needs and the handling of absentee students; and initiatives for ethnic minority children, including learning Chinese as a second language.
Other issues included children’s healthy development, including medical needs and mental health; and child protection.