First community living room in the New Territories opens in Tsuen Wan

The first community living room in the New Territories opens in Tsuen Wan with aims to support families living in subdivided units.

Located on Chuen Lung Street in Tsuen Wan, the 4,200 square-foot Community Living Room will be open daily from 11am to 10pm except during severe weather conditions.

Apart from a children's playroom, a laundry room and a music room, the site also features a dedicated training room for children with special educational needs and their parents with relevant support services -- and even robotics and 3D printing facilities.

Cantonese classes and job training sessions are offered to new immigrants as well as homework support services for children.

Operated by the Hong Kong Young Women's Christian Association, the community living room is housed in sites provided by the Shaw Foundation under a three-year arrangement.

It's expected to serve around 500 families residing in subdivided units in the district.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan says the government remains committed to improving the well-being of grassroots families and ensuring resources are directed to those most in need through targeted poverty alleviation measures.

Chan notes Tsuen Wan has one of the highest concentrations of subdivided flats in the New Territories.

He says eight community living rooms will have commenced operations within a 12-month period, bringing the total number to 14 within two and a half years.

Four more facilities are in the pipeline to be rolled out within this year.