Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak said today that the District Services & Community Care Teams’ services will not be affected by the temporary suspension of certain members who will be involved in election-related activities.

She sought to explain to reporters that the work of the Government’s care teams will not be disrupted even though 10% of the care team members will be providing services in the upcoming 2023 District Council Ordinary Election.

Ms Mak said: “So far around 460 care team members declared that they will (be) involved in the election-related activities, either they are candidates running in the election, or they are the election agents of those candidates.

“Their services will (be) suspended for a period of time during this election.”

She stressed that during the temporary suspension of certain members, the Government will still have more than 4,000 care team members providing services in different districts.

Using the extreme rainstorm in September as proof of the mobilisation capability of the care teams, Ms Mak pointed out that when the care team in Shek O could not discharge their duties due to the temporary suspension of land transportation, care teams from other districts answered the call for help.  

She once again offered reassurance that the work of the care teams will not be affected as a result of the interim suspension of certain care team members.