'Govt to release report on care teams after deal ends'

Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Alice Mak, on Friday said the government would publish a comprehensive report of care teams once the service agreement with them ends. The government outsources district-level community services to care teams, which offer assistance to residents in each district, such as visiting the elderly. The teams are required to submit work and financial reports regularly to the authorities. However, Chinese University's student publication, U-Beat, earlier reported that it was unable to access these reports while doing a story on the issue. Speaking to reporters, Mak said it is more appropriate to reveal this information after the two-year contract concludes. "After the two-year service agreement, we will disclose the achievements of the care teams, including their work targets and indicators attained, in an appropriate manner. We hope that after the two-year service agreement, there will be a complete and comprehensive record. I also think approach is appropriate," she said. There are 452 care teams in Hong Kong, with the first batch beginning their services in the Southern District in April 2023. The home affairs chief noted the teams were able to visit 340,000 households over the past year, describing their performance ideal.