In order to better enrich the local community and serve the residents, the office of the New Territories West Branch of the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong (BPA) officially opens today (September 30), signifying a new chapter in the development of the Alliance’s community work. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, the New Territories Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Mr Liu Lin, joined the opening and roast pork cutting ceremony, together with members of the Alliance and some 100 guests from a wide cross-section of the community.
Chairman of the Alliance, Mr Andrew Leung, said that 22 district council members had joined the Alliance since its inception less than a year ago, spanning different geographical constituencies, with 8 in New Territories East, 7 in New Territories North and 7 in Kowloon West. Three of them were district council chairmen, he noted, adding that the progress was very encouraging.
“The encouraging outcome is the result of the joint effort of our members and the support and advice of our friends in different sectors. With the rationality, professionalism and practical style of the Alliance, we would like to invite more like-minded people to join our big family,” said Mr Leung.
The New Territories West Branch set up today is the third office of the BPA, in the wake of the Hong Kong Island Headquarters and the New Territories East Branch. Mr Leung said that their members sat on 4 out of 5 district councils, including Tuen Mun District Council Chairman Dr. Lau Wong-fat, and Kwai Tsing District Council Board Chairman Mr Fong Ping. Their solid work at the district level and rich experiences, he said, laid strong foundations for the development of the Alliance’s community work.
In addressing the audience in her capacity as the officiating guest, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, said the Alliance also showed strong concern for people’s livelihood and community affairs, while representing the interests of the business community and professionals. She said the HKSAR Government shared BPA’s vision that economic development and people’s livelihood go hand in hand. Stressing that the Legislative Council was closely associated with district issues, she paid tribute to the Alliance for helping to consolidate community forces and building up a strong base of district council members.
Vice Chairman, Mr Jeffrey Lam, said the excellent location of the New Territories West Branch, easily accessible by various transport means, underscored the liveliness and energy of the local community. He said the establishment of three district offices in less than one year since the Alliance’s inception showed its vision that “Business drives economy, Professionalism improves livelihood” was widely shared by the community. He extended gratitude to members and staff for their work to make the Alliance’s continued progress and expansion possible.
He said that each branch would provide suitable services to the local community according to its nature and the needs of residents. Citing the discount food market in Sha Tin as an example, he said the Alliance’s project, that liaises with suppliers of food and daily necessity products and sell commodities to residents at discount prices, proved a great success.
Prominent members of the Alliance, Mr Andrew Leung, Mr Jeffrey Lam, Dr. Lau Wong-fat, Dr. Lo Wai-kwok, Mr Christopher Cheung, Dr Priscilla Leung, Mr Fong Ping, together with fellow district council members and community executives, attended the opening ceremony to express their support. Other guests included Director of the Leisure and Cultural Services Mrs Betty Fung, several District Officers in the New Territories West region, and other community leaders.
The Alliance will continue to serve as an effective bridge between the Government and the people by way of its rationality, professionalism and practical style, in its endeavour to build a better community and a brighter future for Hong Kong.
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