It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the 12th International Conference on Mobility and Transport for Elderly and Disabled Persons (TRANSED 2010) in Hong Kong.

         Provision of accessible transport and barrier-free facilities is one of the pillars in facilitating seniors and persons with disabilities to live independently and fully integrate into society. With the advance in technology, significant progress in the provision of barrier-free transport and building facilities has been made in recent years. More elderly and persons with disabilities are now empowered to leave their residence to join social activities, travel and participate fully in all aspects of life.

         The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has entered into force and applied to Hong Kong since August 2008. Recognising the importance of accessibility in enabling persons with disabilities to fully enjoy all human rights and fundamental freedoms is a common vision of the international society.

         This international event provides a valuable opportunity for us to share our knowledge and experiences in promoting accessible transportation and travel. I firmly believe that exchanges resulting from this conference will inspire us to make our cities more accessible and inclusive.

         I wish you all an enjoyable and successful conference.

Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, GBS, JP

Secretary for Labour and Welfare

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region