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Members from the voluntary association—“Voice of Love (善心聲)”—and artist Helena Law visited the Tseung Kwan O Aged Care Complex in the afternoon on 8 March, 2018, where they performed a number of local pop hits and Chinese operas and sent New Year’s greetings to the elderly. Senior members were happy when receiving the gift bags and red packets given by the volunteers.   Dr Alexis Suen, a founder of the “Voice of Love”, said it was the first voluntary activity since their establishment. He looked forward to partnering with the Welfare Council in other festivals and at various functions.

The past year was a time of celebration for the Wong Tai Sin District Elderly Community Centre’s 30th anniversary. To honour its contributions to the community, the centre was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation at a Chinese New Year reception hosted by the Wong Tai Sin District Council on 26th February, 2018.   Since 1981, the Welfare Council has begun its welfare works in Wong Tai Sin, where it established home help teams and elderly centres. These service centres have been merged with the Wong Tai Sin District Elderly Community Centre in 1988 to provide more comprehensive and diversified services and activities.   The staff of the Wong Tai Sin District Elderly Community Centre felt grateful for the recognition, and promised to keep up their efforts to serve members of the public in Wong Tai Sin, a district with the highest senior population in Hong Kong.

The Welfare Council has been committed to connecting the commercial sector with the public sector to facilitate collaborations between organisations in fulfilling corporate social responsibility. Previously, A Plus World Trade Company Limited, a partner from the commercial sector, has donated 330,000 pieces biodegradable and ccompostable dining utensils, which amounted to HK$130,000, to the Council. On 9th February, 2018, a donation ceremony was held at the S.K.H. Church of St. John the Baptist, with the presence of Dr William Choi, Chairman of A Plus World Trade Company Limited, and Dr Jane Lee, Director of the Welfare Council. Dr Choi also distributed gift bags to the elderly and celebrated the Spring Festival with them.   Accompanied by Mr Perick Wong, Service Director of the Welfare Council, Dr Choi toured the Tseung Kwan O Aged Care Complex and was briefed on its operation and services. Dr Choi then reunited with Mr Palman Chan, a resident of the complex as well as the former principal of Choi’s alma mater. Together, they also shared the precious memories from the time they were in school.   

Jointly organised by the Kowloon City District Office and the H.K.S.K.H. Kowloon City and Youth Integrated Service Centre, the Kowloon City Running Youth 2018, a city orienteering race, has been held for the second year in a row. The orienteering race took place in Kowloon City right after the kick-off ceremony held at the CCC Kei To Secondary School on 4th February. Despite of the cold spell, almost 400 teenagers of 90 teams actively participated in the race. A team of four had to explore 15 checkpoints in Kowloon City neighbourhood to complete different tasks within a specific amount of time. The team that got the highest score won the race. The organisers hoped the race could encourage the youth to accept challenges, foster their self-understanding and develop a greater understanding of the community.   Addressing to the guests, Ms Seiko Lee, Service Director of the Welfare Council, noted that Kowloon City is a place filled with rich history and culture, where it is embraced by cultural attractions such as the Cattle Depot Artists Village, the Grade 3 Stone Houses and Kowloon Walled City Park, among others. The exciting orienteering race favoured among young people did not only allow teenagers to interact and connect with their community but also increased the general public’s knowledge about Kowloon City and helped build a joyful, energetic and harmonious community.   The champions, first runners-up and second runners-up of both the Secondary School and Open Categories were decided after a 3-hour competition. Mr Franco Kwok, District Officer (Kowloon City) of Home Affairs Department, and Ms Louisa Lee, Assistant Director of the Welfare Council, presented the awards to the winners. More than that, singer JW was invited to perform at the event and shared how she realised her ambitions. She also encouraged young people to face the challenges readily, set goals and pursue dreams so as to live life to the full.

聖公會澳門社會服務處多年來承蒙教會、社會各界的支持，同工的努力，為澳門社會群體提供專業及創新的服務，服務處上今日(19日)有幸獲澳門特別行政區政府頒發本年度社會服務獎章。   澳門特別行政區政府於今日舉行「二○一七年度勳章、獎章及獎狀頒授典禮」，由代理行政長官陳海帆向42名個人及實體頒授勳章、獎章和獎狀，表揚他們開展有益社會和共同福祉的工作時有積極貢獻，而且具無私奉獻精神。服務處由聖公會澳門區會理事長管浩鳴法政牧師代表領授，秘書范錫強牧師、聖公會(澳門)蔡高中學校董梁官漢先生、陳志君校長、聖公會澳門社會服務處管理委員會主席李正儀博士、義務秘書文孔義先生、管理顧問黃羨琰女士、李國豪服務總監及同工代表陪同出席典禮。服務處仝人對獲獎均感榮耀、肯定及認同，以此鼓勵同工往後繼續用心盡力、堅守崗位服務社會的所需。 頒授典禮當晚進行祝捷晚會，得到香港聖公會教省副秘書長劉永勤牧師、聖公會(澳門)聖保羅堂潘靄君牧師、聖公會中學李潤基副校長親臨與同工分享殊榮及喜悅，出席同工代表近50人。   聖公會澳門社會服務處於1997年成立，本著「個別關懷、專業服務、同行成長、創意更新」的理念，得到教會的支持及學校的合作，為澳門居民提供專業適切的社會服務。現時共有14個服務單位及2項特別計劃，包括：學校輔導服務、青年外展工作、校園適應、領袖發展、賭博輔導、隱蔽及成癮工作、青少年及家庭綜合服務、僱員支援、調查研究及專業培訓。服務範疇涵蓋青少年、家庭、賭博輔導及專業培訓等。全體職員180多名，當中社工及輔導人員119名。展望未來，服務處會繼續致力發展澳門專業及本土的服務，學效基督的僕人精神，服務有需要的社群。

In the afternoon of 8th December, 2017, the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council hosted its Annual Meeting 2016-2017 at the H.K.S.K.H. St James’ Church. Dr Law Chi-kwong, GBS, JP, Secretary for Labour and Welfare was invited to be the officiating guest of the ceremony, which was also attended by the Most Revd Dr Paul Kwong, Honorary Patron of the Welfare Council, the Rt Revd Andrew Chan, Bishop of the H.K.S.K.H. Diocese of Western Kowloon, the Revd Dr Timothy Kwok, Bishop of the H.K.S.K.H. Diocese of Eastern Kowloon, members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee; and about 1,000 employees. The Welfare Council reviewed its achievement over the past year    Opening Remarks by Dr Donald Li In his opening remarks, Dr Donald Li, SBS, OStJ, JP, Chairman of the Welfare Council Board of Directors, praised staff’s for providing all-round support services to individuals of different ages and backgrounds in line with its service philosophy, “Transform Life. Live in Abundance”, which tendered to the physical, psychological and spiritual needs of the underprivileged groups. He also applauded staff for their innovation and dedication in constructing social resources.   Dr Li thanked the staff and guests for their involvement in the Welfare Council’s 50th anniversary celebrations as well as their support and blessings. He mentioned that the Welfare Council has been preparing its 5-year strategic plan. Under the guidance of the Executive Committee, the Welfare Council has invited about 3,000 employees to share their opinions on the strategic plan, which aims at improving staff’s sense of belonging to the Welfare Council.   Dr Jane Lee, Director of the Welfare Council, Addressing on the Work of the Welfare Council At the annual meeting, Dr Jane Lee, Director of the Welfare Council, and Mr Lo Kin-ming, Honorary Treasurer of the Welfare Council and Chairman of the Audit Sub-committee, briefed attendees on the work and finances of the Welfare Council over the past year.   Dr Jane Lee highlighted the latest developments of different services. She noted that the Welfare Council   has been actively introducing new technologies to its service operation. In June 2017, it participated in the Gerontech and Innovation Expo cum Summit to share its experiences in using autonomous humanoid robots and technology;   has been promoting the concept of participatory design. It has invited service users and amateur designers to take part in projects such as Morse Park, Duckling Hill and Together We Build: Community Engagement in Public Space Transformation@SummerFest Lifestyle held at the Central Harbourfront Event Space in August 2017. The concept of participatory design will also be applied in its six-year project, Kowloon City in Transformation: Kowloon City Themed Walking Trail;   has been providing services to children with special educational needs since 1980s. In recent years, the Welfare Council has formed a multi-disciplinary team that organised on-site pre-school rehabilitation services. In addition, the Welfare Council received funding from the Hong Kong Jockey Clun Charities Trust, which would be used to fund the renovation and operation of a three-year project, “WE LOVE— Jockey Club Centre for Family Enhancement”. The project would provide services to children with special educational needs and their parents. Also, a non-profit organisation, Smile With Us HK donated HK$2 million to the Welfare Council’s Smile Fund.   Dr Lee expressed her gratitude to the employees of the Macau Social Services Coordination Office for their disaster relief work during Typhoon Hato. She mentioned that the Chief Executive of Macau would present a Medal for Community Service to the office’s staff in recognition of their contribution to society.   Mr Lo Kin-ming, Honorary Treasurer of the Welfare Council, pointed out that the Welfare Council was in sound financial conditions during the year while the results of the satisfaction survey for service users towards services conducted by the Welfare Council was ideal as 93% of service users and 96% of caregivers or family members said they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the Welfare Council’s services. On top of that, the level of staff satisfaction rate had towards the Welfare Council stood at 77.6%—the highest since the first survey was conducted.   Speech by Secretary Law Chi-kwong Speaking at the annual meeting, Secretary Law Chi-kwong acclaimed the Welfare Council for its continuous support to the government’s works on poverty relief, elderly and rehabilitative welfare services. “In the last policy address, we laid stress on the importance of poverty relief. The government requires joint efforts from all sides to cope with problems as a result of ageing population, and the Welfare Council is definitely our good partner,” he said.   Secretary Law Chi-kwong told that the Special Scheme on Privately Owned Sites for Welfare Uses launched by the government encouraged social welfare organisations to better use their land through in-situ expansion or redevelopment so as to reduce the long waiting times for elderly services and rehabilitation services. He believed the participation of the Welfare Council and other organisations in the said scheme could motivate more organisations to work towards the same goal to improve the quality of social services.   Psalm 92:13-14, “They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God. In old age they still produce fruit; they are always green and full of sap.” Quoting the word of God, Secretary Law Chi-kwong praised the Welfare Council’s servitude towards the weak which would inspire more people to foster social integration in the community.   655 Staff Received Long Service Awards Thanks to all staff for their commitment to their roles, the Welfare Council has made notable achievements during the year. The Welfare Council also awarded 655 employees for their contributions, including 120 staff members who have served at the organisation for more than 20 years, 5 who have served for 30 years, and 3 who have served up to 35 years.