Speech by SLW at "Equal Opportunities Diversity Project" public event

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Stephen Sui, at "Equal Opportunities Diversity Project" public event today (March 12):

Consuls General, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon.

It gives me great pleasure to join this year’s celebration of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.

Let me first thank the Equal Opportunities Commission and Radio Television Hong Kong for organising this highly meaningful event annually to renew Hong Kong’s commitment to building a just and equal society.

As Asia’s world city, Hong Kong’s racial minorities definitely form an integral part of our community. We should therefore celebrate diversity through embracing all the people who regard Hong Kong as their home, regardless of their race, ethnicity, age, gender, religion, cultural background and upbringing.

Hong Kong is facing the challenges of an ageing population and a shrinking work force which will drop from the peak of 3.65 million in 2018 to 3.11 million in 2064, an annual average drop of 10 000. According to the survey findings by the Census and Statistics Department in 2011, the growth rate of ethnic minorities who are of South Asian origin was over 4.1%, much higher than the growth rate of the general population of 0.5%. Ethnic minorities will be one of the key driving forces in strengthening our workforce as well as Hong Kong’s continuous economic development.

To promote the employment opportunities of ethnic minorities (EM) and facilitate their full integration into the community, the Labour and Welfare Bureau provides them with targeted welfare services, training and retraining opportunities and employment support. Our “Low Income Working Family Allowance” launched last year, the Employees Retraining Board’s specially designed EM-friendly training programmes, the Labour Department’s “Employment Services Ambassador Programme for Ethnic Minorities” and the pilot scheme of hiring “Employment Assistant for Ethnic Minorities” are some such examples which demonstrate the Government’s firm commitment to assisting and boosting the employability of and offering job opportunities to our ethnic minorities who call Hong Kong home.

Martin Luther King’s speech in 1963 and John Lennon’s song “Imagine” in 1971 both portrayed a visionary picture of equality and justice. Let us join hands together to act and make the dream real by promoting the spirit of inclusion and social harmony. On this note, let me wish today’s event every success, and all of you an enjoyable and happy Sunday. Thank you.

Ends/Sunday, March 12, 2017