The Government would work closely with the social services sector to provide more working opportunities to the disadvantaged group, the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Mr Tam Chon Weng, had said.

In consideration of the difficulties the sector had countered, the Government would consider buying industrial buildings or to provide rental subsidies for them in view of increasing rents.

Mr Tam was speaking to reporters after a meeting with representatives of social services associations on 22 January, where they exchanged views on the welfare and salaries of personnel in the sector, adolescents’ issues, difficulties on running social services and facilities for the physically challenged.

When asked, he said he was confident that the Islands District Medical Complex would come into operation in 2017. To be more transparent on the schedule and budget, the Government would brief the Legislative Assembly fully in due course, he added.