Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu has pledged to expand a government after-school care scheme to benefit more children from low-income families, following positive feedback from participants. Social workers and educators have welcomed the initiative, calling for wider coverage and school subsidies.
Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu said in a Facebook post on Saturday that he will work with his governance team to explore further expanding the School-based After-School Care Service Scheme to fully utilise resources and benefit more families. The scheme, part of the government’s targeted poverty alleviation measures, has promoted family harmony, with children reporting improvements in academic performance and social life.
Lee, who visited a school before the Easter holiday, noted positive feedback from families who said the programme gives them peace of mind to pursue careers. “In supporting the grass roots, my administration has consistently launched various targeted poverty alleviation projects … to channel resources to those most in need,” he wrote. “The School-based After-School Care Service Scheme is one such example … I will work with my governance team to explore further expanding the programme.” He provided no further details or timeframe.
Social workers and educators welcomed the initiative on Saturday. Figures such as Sze Lai-shan from the Society for Community Organisation and Ken Wong Kam-leung from the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers proposed widening the scheme’s coverage to more pupils and encouraging schools to join via subsidies. The scheme was launched in September and operates in areas like Kowloon City.