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The Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui has laid a solid foundation for growth in Hong Kong over the past 170 years. 120 years ago, the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui began its services in Kowloon City, where it built churches and schools, and provided welfare services to the underprivileged groups. As a social service organisation of the Sheng Kung Hui, Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council (the Welfare Council) received funding from the Urban Renewal Fund (URF) to engage in the design and operation of the Kowloon City Themed Walking Trail. The project will bring residents and stakeholders in the community together to promote heritage preservation and arts and cultural development in Kowloon City. The Council hopes that the spirit of the community will be preserved in spite of redevelopments and new infrastructure.   The 6.5-km-long Kowloon City Walking Trial—the longest themed walking trail in Hong Kong—features five special routes. In September 2017, the Welfare Council received a fund of over HK$80 million to operate the Kowloon City Walking Trail for six years starting from 1st January, 2018 to 31st December, 2023. The walking trail is considered to be a one-of-a-kind project among similar local projects approved by the Urban Renewal Fund in terms of the amount of funding and years of operation. The Welfare Council targets to complete the third route in the first two years and the rest in the next four years.   In the afternoon of 27th November, 2017, the Welfare Council joined the Urban Renewal Fund to launch a kick-off ceremony at the S.K.H. Holy Trinity Cathedral to share the joy with the general public. Guests including Mr Michael Wong, Secretary of Development, Prof. Steven Ngai, Chairman of the Board of the URF, Dr Donald Li, Chairman of the Welfare Council Board of Directors, the Revd Canon Peter Douglas Koon, Honorary Secretary of the Welfare Council Board of Directors, Mr. Pun Kwok-wah, Chairman of the Kowloon City District Council, the Rt Revd Dr Timothy Kwok, Bishop of the H.K.S.K.H. Diocese of Eastern Kowloon, Miss Venus So, Assistant District Officer (Kowloon City), Ms Serena Lau, Director of the Board of the URF, and Dr Jane Lee, Director of the Welfare Council, officiated at the ceremony.   Speaking at the ceremony, the Revd Canon Peter Douglas Koon, Honorary Secretary of the Welfare Council Board of Directors, gave attendees an overview of the Sheng Kung Hui’s work in Kowloon City, explained the purposes of bidding the project and expressed gratitude for the participation and support of various stakeholders in the district. “Most parts of the walking trail reflects the cultural development in Kowloon City over the years. We are honoured to become part of the meaningful project. Also, we would like to give thanks to local communities and individuals, in particular the district council and Home Affairs Department. It took more than the Council and the Urban Renewal Fund’s effort to realise this goal. For everyone who made an effort, thank you, because it was with one heart and one soul that we built this trail,” he said.   In his speech, Prof. Steven Ngai, Chairman of the Board of the URF, noted that the Urban Renewal Fund has been committed to facilitating heritage preservation and district revitalization in urban redevelopment areas. Through the facilities built along the walking trail, he hoped to revitalize Kowloon City, To Kwa Wan and Hung Hom districts and stand out their unique features, and link up a cluster of historical architectures, amenities and open space in the neighbourhood for public enjoyment. “We would also like to highlight the uniqueness of Kowloon City via the themed walking trail. We want our future generations and various groups in society to bring the community to life through by interacting with one another,” he added.   Mr. Pun Kwok-wah, Chairman of the Kowloon City District Council, said, “As a key stakeholder in Kowloon City, the district council will put great efforts to the project. We will also consider to work with the Welfare Council in various projects in the future. Community arts development and cultural heritage conservation are the main tasks of the Kowloon City District Council that we plan to beautify the external walls of government buildings, footbridge staircase and internal walls of subways. I believe that the district council’s effort will create synergy with the work of the trail, and thus promote art, revitalize the community and preserve its spirit.”   During the ceremony, the officiating guests put eight illustrations of the trails key elements onto the backdrop. Mr Michael Wong, Secretary of Development, placed the last piece to symbolise the government’s support to the project.   Together, the participants and the officiating guests conducted another ritual representing joint efforts from all sides to kick off the project.   The Welfare Council also introduced to guests four targets and five key implementation strategies of the project, 53 local communities and individuals participating in the projects, as well as some important features of the project: hub of vibrancy, public furniture, KC Transformers and multi-disciplinary collaborations. Participants were also treated to local delicacies after the ceremony.

With a sponsorship from the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries, the Welfare Council has launched the “Loving Life” project since September 2016, which combined theories and practices with traditional Chinese culture and values. These theories and practices were taught through life education activities at primary and secondary schools and community groups, guiding youngsters to learn positive values, be resilient to adversity and live in abundance. Near the end of the project, the Welfare Council and the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries jointly organised a “Loving Life” Project’s Exhibition cum Talent Show to conclude the works have been done in the past few months.   Dr Albert So Chun-hin, the Chairperson of BMCPC’s External Affairs Committee, Ms Rebecca Wong, Assistant Director of the Welfare Council, artist Bob Cheung and Mr Tommy Chow, World Champion in Rope Skipping, were present to officiate at the event. When addressing the guests, Ms Rebecca Wong, Assistant Director of the Welfare Council, felt grateful for the effort and dedication of the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries and other partners. She said the Welfare Council is willing to go the extra mile with life education so as to create a safe haven for the young people, help families bond and grow and promote caring culture at schools. Speaking to the guests, Dr Albert So Chun-hin, the Chairperson of BMCPC’s External Affairs Committee, shared that he hoped the exhibition could help participants and the public discover the meaning of life and learn to cherish life and beloved ones.   Singer-actor Bob Cheung shared the obstacles he faced in pursing his dream and how he revived with the support of his family members. He said by acknowledging his own efforts, he felt empowered to persevere. Cheung then performed his original composition and another local pop hit to encourage the youth to be optimistic amid adversity. Another performer Tommy Chow and his teammates showed us how to do the moves of rope skipping. Chow told that the best ways for him to relieve stress were to develop interest and do something that he enjoys.   The event featured a series of elaborate performances including dancing, live band show, singing and micro-film screening. Besides, there was an exhibition area where the winning works of Snap for Life! and Draw for Life! were on display while interactive game booths conveying the message of loving life were available.   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ About the “Loving Life” Project Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council jointly organised a “Loving Life” project with the Chinese Permanent Cemeteries, which launched life education activities in 54 secondary and primary schools and community groups. These activities aim to educate young people to be positive and resilient in the face of challenges. In addition to publishing the “Loving Life—Life Education Manual”, the Welfare Council also conducted a series of reading sessions for 24 primary schools, where special reading corners were set up on campus to encourage students to learn different life philosophies and positive values through picture books. The sessions also included storytelling workshops for parents. Other activities of the project included life education programmes, drawing competition, photography competition and life education seminar to name a few.

Funded by the H.K.S.K.H. Wong Tai Sin/Sai Kung District Planning and Coordinating Team, the H.K.S.K.H. Wong Tai Sin District Community Centre co-organised the “You Make Us Love Life” Elderly Scheme with elderly centres in Wong Tai Sin, including the Kowloon City Baptist Church Neighbourhood Elderly Centre, Ho Yee Neighbourhood Centre for Senior Citizens (Sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen), Caritas Elderly Centre – Tung Tau, Free Methodist Church Chuk Yuen IVY Club from September to December 2017. The programme rendered talks on community education to arouse public awareness towards elderly suicide problems, give members of society better understanding on the mental health of seniors and identify elders who have early symptoms of emotional problems or suicidal behavior so as to provide referral services to them.   According to statistics, a total of 954 persons killed themselves in Hong Kong in 2016. 366 of them are seniors aged 60 or above, accounting for 40% of the total number of suicide cases—the highest suicide rate compared to other age groups. At least one elder commit suicide every day on average. Since 2015, close to 30 elders died due to suicide, which accounted for 10% of total number of elder suicide cases.   On 17th November, 2017, the H.K.S.K.H. Wong Tai Sin District Community Centre held the “You Make Us Love Life” Elderly Scheme: Seminar and Sharing Session on Elderly Suicide at the Tung Tau Community Centre, which invited Mr Justin Leung, Program Manager of the Suicide Prevention Services, to give talk on elderly suicide and ways to cope with it. Leung analyzed the elderly suicidal problems in Hong Kong, and taught participants how to identify elders with early signs of suicidal risk as well as ways to cope with relevant problems. Two social workers of the Wong Tai Sin District Elderly Community Centre and the Chuk Yuen Canon Martin District Elderly Community Centre introduced latest services given to elders with high suicidal risk, such as services for hidden elders as well as support teams for the elderly. They hoped to enhance participants’ understanding towards their services so that helping hand could be extended to high-risk elderly persons.   In show of love and care of the community, three officiating guests, Mr Joe Sham, Assistant Director of the Welfare Council, Mr Li Tak-hong, JP, Chairman of the Wong Tai Sin District Council and Ms Heidi Lam, Assistant District Social Welfare Officer (Wong Tai Sin & Sai Kung) together with the district councillors, representatives from property management companies, mutual aid committee members, senior members of the elderly centres and domestic helpers joined more than 200 community members at the event.   Furthermore, the project’s training DVD for caretakers were produced to help caretakers beware of elders with suicidal risk and hidden elders, recognise their role and community resources so that related parties or they could stay alert on high-risk elderly persons and give them immediate intervention and support services, and promote the message of cherishing life in a loving community. Participating elderly centres also collaborated with management companies in the neighbourhood to arrange multiple training sessions for caretakers and distribute leaflets to educate them how to identify high-risk elders and handle accordingly. The programme also organised trainings on increasing awareness of preventing elderly suicide and ways to handle it for frontline and professional staff on 8th September and 1st December, 2017, respectively.

The Welfare Council has never ceased to provide quality nursing services to seniors. On 14th November, 2017, Professor Sophia Chan, Secretary for Food and Health, and Dr KH Wong, Controller of the Centre for Health Protection, visited the H.K.S.K.H. Nursing Home to assess the implementation of the vaccination programme in the Home and were shown how PCV13 injections were given to residents by the Council’s doctors.   Secretary Sophia Chan and guests showed care of the residents and reminded them to get the injections. Accompanied by Ms Jennis Ho, Assistant Director of the Welfare Council and Superintendent of the H.K.S.K.H. Nursing Home, Secretary Sophia Chan and guests also toured the home to learn more about residents’ activities.   Residential Care Home Vaccination Programme 2017/18 has been launched in 25th October, 2017. Free seasonal influenza vaccination will be provided to all residents, staff of residential care homes for the elderly and residential care homes for persons with disabilities, and non-institutionalised persons with intellectual disability receiving services in designated in institutions serving mentally handicapped persons. The government will also provide PCV13 and 23vPPV to all residents of residential care homes for the elderly and residents of aged 65 or above residing in residential care homes for persons with disabilities. For further details, please visit the website of the Centre of Health Protection: http://www.chp.gov.hk/tc/view_content/21657.html.   Established in 1998, the H.K.S.K.H. Nursing Home offers a total of 280 places to elderly persons. Adhering to the Welfare Council’s service mission, “Personalised Service, Holistic Care”, the Home provides residential care, medical and spiritual support for seniors who suffer from poor health or require a higher level of care. Please call 2325 5330 for enquiries.

For decades, the Welfare Council has been walking with masses with love and care. In line with the Council’s service philosophy, the Tung Chung Integrated Services has been providing services to meet the needs of individuals and families in the neighbourhood since its establishment. In the morning of 11th November, 2017, the Tung Chung Integrated Services held a celebratory event at the Fu Tung Estate podium to mark its 20th anniversary of serving society.   In her welcome remarks, Dr Jane Lee, Director of the Welfare Council, shared the precious memories from the time the centre was set up: the Most Revd Dr Paul Kwong, Archbishop and Primate of the H.K.S.K.H., joined the staff to distribute mooncakes to the members of community to celebrate the joyful moments, and the centre built a giant Christmas tree for public enjoyment, among others. She acclaimed the Tung Chung Integrated Services for offering all-round and multi-faceted services to the service users based on its “family-centred” principle. She believed that the centre could continue to thrive and render new services according to varied needs of the community.   Guided by the principles of asset-based community development, the centre thinks that the community has all the resources necessary to meet the needs of its residents. Its four modes of services are one-stop, family-focused, collaborative (a joint effort by homes, schools and communities) and, asset-based.   At the celebratory event, the centre staged various performances including drama, live band show, little magicians and acapella show to exhibit its services, history of development and four modes of services. Guests were deeply moved by the sharing made by Ms Wong, the first member of the centre. Moreover, the scout team from the centre saluted a 100-year-old golden guide.

The H.K.S.K.H. Tseung Kwan O Aged Care Complex began operation in March 2002. To mark its 15 years of effort in providing one-stop integrated services to seniors in Tseung Kwan O and Sai Kung, the centre hosted its 15th anniversary celebration in the afternoon on 4th November, 2017.   The event was held at the Tseung Kwan O Aged Care Complex, which invited Ms Micy Lui, District Social Welfare Officer (Wong Tai Sin/Sai Kung) of the Social Welfare Department, Dr Jane Lee, Director of the Welfare Council, and Ms Joan Tong, former Miss Hong Kong pageant winner and Membership Officer 2017/18 of the Wai Yin Association, as the officiating guests.   To align with the event’s theme “Run for Fun”, the organiser designed an exciting orienteering race, “Let’s Run”, for participants to familiarize with the centre’s services and age-friendly community. Guests and senior members were paired up and divided into two teams to compete in the race. The teams had to visit 15 checkpoints to finish the game.   After officiating guests firing the starting shot, participating teams headed to different checkpoints such as musical therapy area, areas with nostalgic elements, inventive shooting games and African drum corner, among others.   A group of officiating guests then gifted participants who completed the game with a medal at the finishing point. Dr Jane Lee, Director of the Welfare Council, gave a speech to thank the centre and participants, and presented souvenirs. The event concluded with a musical performance by the H.K.S.K.H. Bishop Hall Secondary School’s student fellowship.