Introduction
Centre for Harmony and Enhancement of Ethnic Minority Residents (CHEER) is one of the support service centres funded by the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau (CMAB) of HKSAR Government to provide accessible services to ethnic minorities in Hong Kong. Through the provision of services ranging from tangible interpreting service to multi-dimensional programmes, CHEER aims at facilitating ethnic minority people to have a cheerful and harmonious life in the society.
Main Service Target
All ethnic minorities in Hong Kong.
Objectives
- To assist the ethnic minorities in knowing and accessing essential public services and resources.
- To enhance the ethnic minorities' proficiency in Chinese and English.
- To enhance the ethnic minorities' capacity in problem-solving and adjustment in Hong Kong.
- To promote social inclusion and integration in Hong Kong.
Services
To facilitate better integration of the ethnic minorities, CHEER provides a variety of services including:
1. Interpretation and Translation Service
CHEER provides Interpretation and Translation Service to non-Chinese/ English speaking ethnic minorities and organizations providing essential public services. Services are mainly provided in English and seven ethnic minority languages/ dialects including Bahasa Indonesia, Hindi, Nepali, Punjabi, Tagalog, Thai and Urdu; and in four ways: (Interpretation Service Poste - PDF file)
- Telephone Interpretation Service (TELIS)
- Our interpreters will provide simultaneous over-the-phone interpretation service from English to Bahasa Indonesia, Hindi, Nepali, Punjabi, Tagalog, Thai, Urdu and vice versa. Non-Chinese/ English speaking ethnic minorities and the public service providers can call our TELIS hotlines during operation hours for immediate support or;
- Make a TELIS Appointment in advance, especially in situations such as intake assessments and making applications that involves form-fillings, and may take much longer time. Booking should be made at least 3 working days in advance via TELIS hotlines, by fax or email.
- Operation hours for TELIS are from Monday to Sunday 8am to 10pm except public holidays.
- On-Sight Interpretation Service (OSIS)
- Non-Chinese/ English speaking ethnic minorities can visit our centre where our staff will give immediate help by giving verbal explanation on the meaning of documents from English to the seven respective languages/ dialects.
- Our centre opens from Monday to Saturday between 10am to 10pm, Sunday from 10am to 6pm except public holidays.
- On-Site (Escort) Interpretation Service (EIS)
- EIS is provided UPON REQUEST BY PUBLIC SERVICE PROVIDERS.
- Public service providers can make appointment via fax (+852 3106 0455) or email (tis-cheer@hkcs.org) at least 3 working days in advance.
- EIS will be available from Monday to Friday between 10am-6pm, Saturday from 10am-2pm except public holidays.
- Fee and charges of EIS for Public Service Providers from Government Departments and NGOs are as follows:
- @$30/EIS during operation hour
- @$100/EIS out of operation hour
- Translation Service (TS)
- TS is provided UPON REQUEST BY PUBLIC SERVICE PROVIDERS and；
- For documents where NO SPECIALIZED/PROFESSIONAL TERMINOLOGY involved.
- Public service providers can send through their request via fax (+852 3106 0455) or email (tis-cheer@hkcs.org) at least 14 working days in advance for one page of A4 article (approximately 200 English words).
- Fee and charges of TS for Public Service Providers from Government Departments and NGOs are as follows:
@$1 per One English word to One respective language (Minimum charge is $200)
2. Language Programmes
To enhance the Chinese and English proficiency of the ethnic minorities so as to foster their integration into the society, three levels of language training programmes will be organized, including:
- Elementary Chinese and English Courses
- Intermediate Chinese and English Courses
- Advanced Chinese and English Courses
All courses are FREE OF CHARGE and all ethnic minority are welcome to enrol.
3. Integration Programmes
To equip ethnic minorities with the skills and knowledge that are essential to support their daily living and integration in Hong Kong society, a range of integration programmes will be organized including:
- Technical Literacy Programmes
Workshops to enhance basic technical knowledge and skills that are essential for ethnic minorities' daily lives such as computer training programs. - Cultural Literacy Programmes
Programs to enhance ethnic minorities' understanding about local cultures and history as well as facilitating direct interactions between ethnic minorities and local Chinese people. - Social Literacy Programmes
Activities to enhance ethnic minorities' knowledge about Hong Kong society such as community resources, law and policies etc.
All programmes are FREE OF CHARGE and all ethnic minority people are welcome to enrol.
4. Counselling, Guidance and Referral Services
Counselling, guidance and referral services will be provided by our registered social workers to assist ethnic minorities who are in need of intensive individual support.
Operation Hours
| Time/Day | Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
| 08:00 - 10:00 |  |
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| 10:00 - 18:00 |
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| 18:00 - 22:00 |
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- TELIS hotline
- Drop-in Service
Remark:
- Our service will be closed on public holidays; but
- Interpretation support can be provided to urgent matters out of operation hours (10pm to 8am on Monday to Sunday, and on public holidays);
- Ethnic minorities and public service providers in need of interpretation support for urgent matters can call our TELIS hotlines in which our English-speaking staff will answer your call.
- When typhoon signal No.8 or Black rainstorm signal is issued or expected to be issued, our centre will be closed and all interpretation services will be suspended.
- Our staff will contact those who booked the TELIS or scheduled the EIS to make a new booking.
Apply and Exit Service
- All ethnic minorities in Hong Kong can enrol to our services
- Application for Interpretation and Translation Services, Counselling, Guidance and Referral Services:
Simply call the TELIS Hotlines or visit our Centre during operation hours - Application for language and integration programmes:
Simply complete the application forms and return to us by post or in person
- Application for Interpretation and Translation Services, Counselling, Guidance and Referral Services:
- Service users could exit our service by giving verbal request for termination to our staff.
Contact CHEER
Telephone Interpretation Service (TELIS) Hotlines:
- +852 3755 6811 (For Thai, Bahasa Indonesia and Tagalog)
- +852 3755 6822 (For Hindi and Nepali)
- +852 3755 6833 (For Punjabi and Urdu)
- Email: tis-cheer@hkcs.org
General Enquiry:
- Address:
- G/F, 5 Tsui Ping Road, Kwun Tong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Tel:
- +852 3106 3104
- Fax:
- +852 3106 0455
- Email:
- cheer@hkcs.org
- Map:
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Acknowledgement
Honourable Consultants:
- Dr. Chan Mow Chiu, Raymond
- Mr. Chan Wai Man
- Dr. Cheung Kay Fan, Andrew
- Dr. Keezhangatte James Joseph
- Dr. Kwan Che Ying