Giving warmth in winter

The local temperature has plunged over the past few days, and people have to wear more clothes to keep themselves warm when going out for their daily and festive activities. In cold weather like this, there are some people in society who particularly need our care and support to stay warm.

It was Christmas Eve yesterday. After dinner with my family, I went to the Henry G Leong Yaumatei Community Centre to have a chat with the people taking refuge in the temporary cold shelter to see what they needed.

When I arrived, there were already a few dozen people there. They came from different backgrounds and were of different ages, both young and old. In such cold weather, they needed not only material aid but also emotional comfort. A greeting and a few kind words were all that were needed to convey to them our warmest regards.

An elderly person in the shelter who had returned from Mainland China told me that he had difficulty finding a job in Hong Kong. He specifically urged me to keep Hong Kong prosperous. He may rest assured that, spurred on by his words, my team and I will work hard towards this goal.

During my visit, I also gave my thanks to the staff of the Home Affairs Department manning temporary cold shelters overnight for offering appropriate assistance in a timely manner to people in need and fully demonstrating our care for the community.

All 7 million people in Hong Kong are one big family. In this festive season, I hope you will bring joy and warmth to all corners of the territory and care for people in all levels and sectors of society.

December 25, 2012