On 19 November, 2024, the Legislative Council Panel on Welfare Services visited three service units of the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children (HKSPC), including the Children’s Residential Home (CRH), to learn about its work over the past two years.

Members first listened to a briefing from Mr. Vincent Lee, Chairman of the Executive Committee, and Ms. Subrina Chow, Director, on its services and operations. During the meeting, Chow shared the current operational challenges faced by NGOs, expressing her hope that the government would review the subsidy model, allowing our childcare centres and nursery schools to more flexibly utilise their reserves to support more children and families in need.

Members then observed the facilities and environment of CRH, as well as the Air Cargo Community Day Creche and the Children and Family Services Centre (Sham Mong Districts), to learn about its childcare and family support services.

Members exchanged views with HKSPC representatives on issues such as establishing effective regulatory mechanisms, improving service quality, strengthening staff training and further promoting a culture of child safeguarding.

Looking ahead, we will be committed to planning new services and continuing to optimise existing services to respond to the ever-changing needs of society, creating a happy childhood for children in Hong Kong.

Members who participated in the visit were the Chairman of the Panel, Reverend Canon Peter Douglas Koon, and Deputy Chairman, Ms Doreen Kong; Panel members Mr Stanley Li, Mr Kenneth Leung, Mr Tang Ka-piu; as well as non-Panel members Dr Junius Ho, Mr Edward Leung and Ms Joephy Chan.