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The alumni associations of four Hong Kong's universities in Vancouver and Toronto joined forces this week to launch a nation-wide campaign to gather signatures in the community as an expression of appreciation to the healthcare professionals in Hong Kong and Canada involved in the fight against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
Paying tribute to the healthcare professionals in both Hong Kong and Canada for devoting themselves selflessly in the fight against SARS, the campaign is jointly organized by the alumni associations of the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Polytechnic University and the Baptist University in Vancouver and Toronto with the full support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Canada) (HKETO), Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto and the Community Coalition Concerned About SARS in Toronto. Many organizations and trade bodies are pledging their full support to this worthwhile cause.
The Chinese media in Canada will be giving full support to spread the message throughout the community. They include the Fairchild Media Group, Sing Tao Daily, Ming Pao Daily and Sing Tao Chin Radio.
Welcoming this initiative, the Director of the HKETO, Mrs Rosanna Ure, said: "We are truly grateful to the organizers for their community spirit and their tireless efforts and whole-hearted contribution to bring this campaign to fruition.
"Hong Kong has been fighting an unprecedented battle with a hitherto unknown virus in the past 50 days and is beginning to see the situation stabilised. Canada is also affected by SARS though to a lesser extent. Our communities owe a lot to the medical and healthcare professionals in Hong Kong and Canada and the signature campaign is a good way to convey our appreciation."
To kick off the campaign in Vancouver, a ceremony was held today (May 1, Vancouver time) at Richmond's Parker Place, one of the most popular malls in Vancouver with heavy pedestrian flow.
Officiating at the ceremony were the President of the Alumni Association of the University of Hong Kong, Ms Cheung Wai-ping; the President of the Alumni Association of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (B.C.), Mr Tang Kam; the President of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (Western Canada) Association, Mr Randy Chan; and the President of Hong Kong Baptist University Alumni Association of British Columbia, Mr Oliver Chan. They were joined by the Director of the HKTB, Mrs Aliana Ho and the Principal Consultant (Vancouver) of the HKETO, Mrs Catherine Yuen.
The ceremony will be followed by three days of signature gathering activities at the mall where over 100 volunteers will help spread the message and collect signatures from well-wishers.
A nation-wide electronic signature campaign will be launched tomorrow (May 2, Toronto time)in Toronto by the HKETO Director and representatives of the alumni associations. The Deputy Director of Health, Dr P.Y. Lam, who is in Toronto for an international symposium, will be present to pledge his personal support.
End/Friday, May 2, 2003
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