Welcome Message by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare
Welcome to the Homepage of the Labour and Welfare Bureau ("LWB") of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region ("HKSAR").
Hong Kong is facing unprecedented challenges in a fast changing economic landscape. To remain competitive and to continue to prosper, we need to equip our workforce for a knowledge-based economy, address the manpower needs of the business sector, foster employment, protect labour rights, ensure that different sectors of the community share the fruits of our economic prosperity, and care for the vulnerable and needy of our society. The advent of LWB on 1 July 2007 through the merger of the labour and welfare policy portfolios marks a strategic and significant step of the HKSAR Government in enhancing the policy interfaces in the areas of manpower development, labour, poverty alleviation and welfare. This underlines the importance that the Administration attaches to these policy areas and to realising the goal of promoting self-reliance through job creation. Our aim is to achieve better coherence and cohesiveness among the various programmes under my portfolio.
Underpinned by the Labour Department, Social Welfare Department and other service agencies, LWB will press on with the tasks of promoting employment, maintaining harmonious labour relations, safeguarding the labour rights of employees and enhancing safety and health at work. Equally important, we will leave no stone unturned in taking forward the Government's agenda on social welfare and poverty alleviation and in assisting the vulnerable, the disadvantaged and the under-privileged. We will continue to create an environment for individuals to develop their full potential. We will also promote the well-being and interests of women in Hong Kong. In fulfilling our missions, we will strengthen our collaboration and communication with all stakeholders, including training bodies; employer, employee, and community groups; as well as non-government organisations.
I am confident that through working together closely, we would be able to synergise our work in the areas of manpower, labour and welfare both within the government and with our social partners. This would reinforce our culture of care and compassion, and promote harmony in the family, at the workplace and in the community.
This Homepage provides general information on our policies, organisation, latest news and related documents. I hope that you will find it useful and informative. Your suggestion on our policies/services and our Homepage would be most welcome.
Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, GBS, JP
Secretary for Labour and Welfare