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The wife of the Chief Executive and Volunteer-in-Chief, Mrs Selina Tsang, today (December 6) praised Hong Kong volunteers for their contributions to Hong Kong people as well as the country.
Speaking at the Hong Kong Volunteer Award presentation ceremony 2008, Mrs Tsang said, "Hong Kong volunteers had pertinently provided volunteer services after the earthquake in Sichuan and during the Beijing Olympic Games this year.
"They managed to convey care and warm support to the disastrous areas and spared no efforts in making the Olympic Games a highly acclaimed international event."
Mrs Tsang called for volunteers' continuous support to help those in need and create a harmonious and mutual aid society.
At the ceremony, the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Stephen Fisher, thanked volunteers and organisations for their dedication to volunteer work and contributions to society. He encouraged more people to join the volunteer service to serve society.
Mr Fisher also thanked members of the Steering Committee on the Promotion of Volunteer Service and the volunteers for bringing the Volunteer Movement through to its 10th anniversary.
Since the promotion of the volunteer service in 1998 to the end of October this year, about 800,000 registered volunteers and more than 1 800 registered organisations have committed to volunteer service. In 2007, the registered volunteers devoted more than 19 million hours of service to the community.
The annual awards presentation is organised by the Social Welfare Department's Steering Committee on the Promotion of Volunteer Service, to recognise the contribution of volunteers and further promote the Volunteer Movement.
Awards were presented today to commend the outstanding contribution of various types of volunteers. In 2007, more than 60,000 volunteer certificates were issued to committed volunteers, including 25 volunteers who had served the community for more than 20 years. These volunteers were commended along with individual volunteers and volunteer organisations that offered the highest number of service hours. Please see annex for a list of awardees.
Today's ceremony also celebrates the 10th anniversary of the Volunteer Movement and a new television Announcement of Public Interest (TV API) to foster a harmonious society and promoting family volunteering was launched.
Also present at the ceremony were the Convenor of the Sub-committee on the Promotion and Publicity of Volunteer Service, Mr Michael Wong; the Convenor of the Sub-committee on the Promotion of Volunteering in Community Organisations, Mr Caecage Siu Chor-kee; the Convenor of the Sub-committee on the promotion of Student and Youth Volunteering, Mr Lee Kam-chung and the Convenor of the Sub-committee on the Promotion of Corporate Volunteering, Mr Herman Hui.
Ends/Saturday, December 6, 2008
Issued at HKT 15:45
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