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The Director of Social Welfare, Mr Patrick Nip, today (October 7) commended a number of corporations for their remarkable and unfailing participation in volunteer work, tapping their expertise to cater for community needs and serve more people in need over the past year.
Officiating at the 2011 Seminar on Corporate Volunteering and Award Presentation Ceremony, Mr Nip said, "Not only have corporate volunteers actively participated in volunteer work, they have also integrated the spirit of volunteering into their daily life and utilised their expertise to serve the community.
"I hope that everyone can adopt and promote the theme 'Volunteering - a New Attitude to Life' as the core value of volunteering work and build a harmonious and caring society."
Mr Nip hoped that today's seminar would promote a better understanding of volunteer work and the work-life balance, as well as enhance the co-operation and partnership between corporations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in serving the community, especially the disadvantaged.
He congratulated the awardees and thanked them for their commitment and contribution to the community.
A total of 28 companies and NGOs that had provided 10,000 hours of volunteer services in 2010 were presented with certificates (see attachment).
The Chairman of the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund Committee, Mr Yeung Ka-sing, delivered a keynote speech on "The Cultivation of Social Capital through Corporate Volunteering". In addition, representatives of experienced corporations including the Director, Talent Management, DFS Group, Asia North Division of DFS Group, Mr Wilfred Wong; Honourable President of Hong Kong General Chamber of Small and Medium Business, Dr Kevin Lau; Senior Vice President, Human Resources of BCT Group, Ms Iris Lam; and Retail Marketing Manager of Hong Kong & China Gas Company Limited, Ms Catherine Wong, also spoke at a seminar on "Corporate Volunteering: Integration and Harmony" and shared their experiences in corporate volunteering.
A service exposition was also organised to foster the collaboration between corporate volunteer teams and NGOs providing social services. Eight exhibition booths were set up at the venue.
The Steering Committee on the Promotion of Volunteer Service of the Social Welfare Department has been promoting the "Volunteer Movement" since 1998. Under its auspices, the Sub-Committee on Promotion of Corporate Volunteering was set up to encourage corporations to take part in volunteer services to help those in need, with a view to fostering a caring and integrated society in Hong Kong.
As at September 30, 2011, the Steering Committee has registered more than 970,000 volunteers and more than 2,210 organisations in support of volunteer work. The total service hours recorded in 2010 exceeded 22 million hours.
Ends/Friday, October 7, 2011
Issued at HKT 18:54
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