New DREAM Support Service Centre for Ethnic Minorities Opens in Kowloon City, Enhancing Community Integration Efforts.

DREAM Support Service Centre for Ethnic Minorities officially opens

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, and the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, officiated at the opening ceremony of DREAM Support Service Centre for Ethnic Minorities (DREAM Centre) located in Kowloon City District today (December3).

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan said that the Government has always attached great importance to providing support for ethnic minorities. To strengthen support services for ethnic minorities and help them integrate into the local community, the Chief Executive announced in the 2023 Policy Address that two new support service centres will be set up in 2024, one in New Territories East and the other in Kowloon Central, increasing the number of support service centres to 10.

Further to increasing the number of support service centres, he added that as announced in the 2024 Policy Address, the Government will invite one more existing support service centre, together with the existing Centre for Harmony and Enhancement of Ethnic Minority Residents (CHEER Centre), to provide interpretation and translation services for ethnic minorities in 2025, to alleviate the inconvenience they face due to language barriers. He expressed hope that these new measures will further promote the integration of ethnic minorities into the community.

Other officiating guests included the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, MsShirleyLam; the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, MrClarenceLeung; the Director of Home Affairs, MrsAliceCheung; the Chairman of Advisory Committee of International Social Service Hong Kong Branch (ISS-HK), MrKennethKwok; and the Chief Executive of ISS-HK, MrStephenYau.

The existing eight support service centres for ethnic minorities are located in Wan Chai, Kwun Tong, Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Yau Tsim Mong, Sham Shui Po, Tung Chung and Kwai Tsing. The two additional centres are situated in Kowloon City and Sha Tin (the one in Sha Tin will officially open later this month). DREAM Centre, operated by ISS-HK, is located at Shop No. 501, 5th Floor, Kowloon City Plaza, 128 Carpenter Road, Kowloon City. The centre provides a wide range of support services for ethnic minorities, including language classes, interest classes, after-school tutorial classes, youth activities, and integration activities, as well as counselling and referral services. In addition, DREAM Centre will assist ethnic minorities in accessing public services, including provision of workstations for accessing the Internet and distribution of multilingual service guidebooks and leaflets on services provided by the Government and non-profit-making organisations. The Ethnic Minority Care Team set up by DREAM Centre has also commenced service in tandem.

Except for public holidays, DREAM Centre operates seven days a week. The operating hours are from 9am to 6.30pm on Mondays and from 9am to 9pm from Tuesdays to Sundays.

Members of the public may call DREAM Centre's hotline at 31044044 for more information about the centre.

DREAM Support Service Centre for Ethnic Minorities officially opens Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DREAM Support Service Centre for Ethnic Minorities officially opens Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DREAM Support Service Centre for Ethnic Minorities officially opens Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

DREAM Support Service Centre for Ethnic Minorities officially opens Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SB and its disciplined services hold Constitution Day Flag Raising Ceremony

​Today (December 4) is Constitution Day. The Security Bureau (SB) led its disciplined services to hold the Constitution Day Flag Raising Ceremony at the Hong Kong Customs College, with a view to strengthening public understanding of the constitutional basis and order of the country and Hong Kong, as well as promoting the spirit of the Constitution.

The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, officiated at the ceremony. The disciplined services ceremonial guard and the flag party, comprising more than 100 members, marched into the venue with Chinese-style foot drill and conducted the flag-raising ceremony during the playing and singing of the national anthem with a fly-past by a helicopter of the Government Flying Service (GFS). The ceremony was concluded by the Customs and Excise Band's military tattoo.

Addressing the ceremony, Mr Lam said that Constitution Day has entered its second decade. Hong Kong's constitutional order is based on the Constitution and the Basic Law, which are the root and origin of Hong Kong. The Constitution provides the most fundamental and solid legal protection for "one country, two systems". Hong Kong should make full use of all the unique advantages brought about by "one country, two systems" and safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests to maintain Hong Kong's long-term prosperity and stability. He said that public awareness of the Constitution should be nurtured from an early age, and members of the disciplined services should act as guardians and defenders of the Constitution and spare no effort in discharging the duty of safeguarding national security.

Participating disciplined services in the flag-raising ceremony included the Customs and Excise Department, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Fire Services Department, the Immigration Department, the Correctional Services Department and the GFS.

The flag-raising ceremony was broadcast live via Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) TV 32, the website and the YouTube channel of RTHK, the Facebook page of the RTHK VNEWS and the website of the Information Services Department to allow the public to participate together to enhance awareness of the Constitution.