PRESS RELEASE – ICA launches Welcome Hongkonger Programme 新聞稿：ICA歡迎香港人項目正式啟動

ICA歡迎香港人項目正式啟動

依士靈頓華人協會(ICA) 2月19日舉辦的農曆新年巿集吸引了1,300多人參加。

巿集以香港過年文化習俗為主題，滙集20個美食及精品攤位，全部由香港人主理。當日並有醒獅、唱歌和舞蹈表演，增添節日氣氛，同時吸引香港人和熱衷過傳統農曆新年和香港美食的本地人。

此活動同時標誌著依士靈頓華人協會的歡迎香港人項目正式啟動。

主理BNO簽證新移民融入政策的社區事務國務大臣Lord Greenhalgh親函協會，表達對活動的支持，他表示：「香港人新年巿集這個新意思很不錯，我予以全力支持；祝願你們和依士靈頓華人協會的慶祝活動，以及未來支持BNO簽證新移民的工作萬事如意！」

Lord Greenhalgh說：「很高興ICA獲得地方議會和民間團體的地區計劃撥款，期望未來數月為持BNO香港人舉辦廣東午餐、親善城巿遊踪及其他多元化的活動。」

當日巿集獲得逾100名義工、表演者及攤位夥伴全力支持。所有攤位皆由香港人主持，提供自家烘培美點及深受歡迎的街頭美食，包括港式奶茶、蛋撻、菠蘿包、咖喱魚蛋、雞蛋仔等。

售賣自製蛋撻和义燒酥的攤位負責人Cindy表示：「見到香港人食完件撻之後，感到安慰和滿足，實在感恩。知道做酥皮蛋撻好難做又好辛苦，所以冇咩人想做最正宗嘅香港味，但好想將香港最普遍的食物之一帶黎英國，想多啲外國人記得香港，推動香港飲食文化，知道香港嘅酥皮蛋撻係好正架！香港人都係好正架！」

房屋、社區和地方政府事務部撥款資助47個全國及地區性的項目，歡迎以BN(O)簽証移居英國的香港人，依士靈頓華人協會(ICA)是其中一個受資助團體。其服務重點為迎新 (induct)、凝聚 (cohere)及適應 (adapt)，將會提供諮詢服務，舉辦課程及各種活動，幫助新移民提升語文及溝通能力，認識本地社區生活和文化，掌握求職和生活技巧，及適應新的社區環境。項目希望建立一個平台，讓新移民之間發揮團結互助的精神，並通過推廣香港人的知識、才能和文化承傳，助其積極融入本地社區。

ICA今年慶祝成立35年，是一個致力推動共融的社區組織，歷年來不斷幫助華人，尤其是香港移民，因應不同時代的社群需要，開拓各種新服務，幫助新移民獲得所需的技能及資源，以安居樂業，並與社區建立密切的聯繫。

ICA歡迎香港人項目的最新活動資訊，將於其網站及面書發布，敬請留意，如欲查詢義工及合作機會，請電郵welcome@islingtonchinese.com。

ICA launches Welcome Hongkonger Programme

Islington Chinese Association’s Lunar New Year Market was successfully held last Saturday (19 Feb) and attracted more than 1,300 people.

The Market was themed on the cultures and traditions of Hong Kong and played host to 20 stalls selling street food, snacks, goods and souvenirs, all offered by Hong Kongers. Lion dance, singing and dancing performances added fun and festive spirit to the event and attracted not only Hong Kong people, but also locals who love the traditional Lunar New Year atmosphere and authentic taste of Hong Kong.

This event also marked the launch of the Welcome Hongkongers programme of the Islington Chinese Association.

In his letter Communities Minister Lord Greenhalgh expressed his support of this event. ‘‘The Hongkongers’ New Year Market is a wonderful initiative,’ He said, ‘I support fully the event and would like to wish you and the Islington Chinese Association all the very best for the celebration and for your future endeavours in supporting the BN(O) community.’

Lord Greenhalgh said, ‘I am very pleased that your organisation is now able to start
delivering vital support to British National (Overseas) status holders in London with
funding from the Regional VCSE Grant Scheme. I look forward to seeing the Islington
Chinese Association bringing its plans for BN(O)s to life with Cantonese lunches, befriending walks and other activities all planned over the next few months.’

Full support was also received from over 100 volunteers, performers and stall traders. The traders, all Hong Kong people, offered a variety of home-made snacks and popular street food including Hong Kong-style milk tea, egg tarts, pineapple buns, curry fish balls, egg waffles, etc.

Cindy, the stall trader selling home-made egg tarts and pastries, said, ‘I’m thrilled to see my home folks here and get great satisfaction from seeing them enjoy the home food they have missed so much. I hope by promoting our delicious food and cultures, we can get more people to know more about Hong Kongers, in a way helping us to settle in the U.K. and integrate into the local communities.’

The Islington Chinese Association (ICA) is one of organisations being allocated government funding by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities to launch a community project to help Hong Kongers settle into life in the U.K.. Its programme focuses on providing induction, promoting cohesion and facilitating adaptation. Advice services, classes and activities will be offered to help Hong Kongers enhance their language and communication skills, understanding of local communities and cultures, skills and knowledge for job seeking and adaptation to the new environment. The programme aims to create a platform to facilitate mutual support among the newly arrived Hong Kongers and to inspire exchange of skills, training and knowledge in cultural heritage with the local communities.

Celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, ICA is an inclusive community organisation and has a long history of supporting people of Chinese heritage, in particular those originated from Hong Kong, and initiating much-needed services to help newcomers acquire the skills and resources for effective settlement and building strong community cohesion.

Details of the upcoming events and activities of the Welcome Hongkongers Programme will be announced at ICA’s website and facebook page. For enquiries of volunteering and collaboration opportunities, please email to welcome@islingtonchinese.com.