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SWD commends over 200 foster families for lighting up children's hearts with love (with photos)
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     ​The Social Welfare Department (SWD) held the Foster Families Service Award Presentation Ceremony 2026 today (May 17) to commend over 200 foster families and recognise their years of dedicated contributions and love in caring for foster children, enabling them to grow up in a safe, stable and nurturing family environment.

     The SWD's Central Foster Care Unit has long been committed to overseeing and co-ordinating the provision of foster care service by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and is now approaching the significant milestone of its 45th anniversary. Under the theme "On Wings of Love We Soar Above: Towards 45 Flourishing Years", the ceremony was officiated by the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To, with the participation of about 680 guests, including foster parents, foster children and representatives from 11 NGOs providing foster care service. At the ceremony, 22 foster parents received long-service awards for over 25 years of service, two of whom were specifically recognised for serving over 30 years and being role models in lighting up the hearts of countless children with their love; while nearly 180 families received awards for long service periods ranging from five to 20 years.

     Addressing the ceremony, Mr To said that foster care service aims at providing family-like care for children whose parents cannot provide proper care for them due to family problems. The children can therefore continue to enjoy family life until they can be reunited with their families or when other long-term welfare plans are arranged for them. Thanks to all foster parents who willingly open their doors to provide care service with love and patience, foster children are able to grow up healthily in a warm and protective family setting.
  
     Mr To further remarked that every foster family itself is a touching storybook - some parents who initially intended to provide short-term emergency care have been serving for over 30 years, rendering protection and shelter to needy children; and there are also parents who strived to provide foster children with a happy childhood despite their own busy schedules, protecting children's well-being with love. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all foster parents for their selfless love that transcends blood ties. Such years-long dedication not only injects warmth and positive energy into children's lives, it also lights up their hearts, empowering them to soar with love.
 
     Mr To also extended sincere thanks to the 11 NGOs operating foster care service for their unwavering support in sustaining the service toward its fruitful 45th anniversary.
 
     With a view to strengthening support for foster care service and encouraging more dedicated individuals to become foster parents, the SWD has implemented a series of enhancement measures in recent years, including the substantial increase of the incentive payment for foster parents starting from April 2024; allocating additional resources to enhance training for foster parents and to provide extra support for foster children with special needs since 2025. Currently, there are about 1 120 foster families in Hong Kong. Members of the public who are interested in joining foster care service are welcome to contact the SWD's Central Foster Care Unit at 2573 2282.
 
Ends/Sunday, May 17, 2026
Issued at HKT 12:25
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The Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To, speaks at the Foster Families Service Award Presentation Ceremony 2026 organised by the Social Welfare Department today (May 17). He expressed his appreciation to foster families for their years of dedicated contribution and love in caring for foster children, enabling them to grow up in a safe, stable and nurturing family environment.
The Social Welfare Department today (May 17) organised the Foster Families Service Award Presentation Ceremony 2026 to commend foster families for their selfless love for foster children. Photo shows the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To (eighth right), pictured with the Deputy Director of Social Welfare (Services), Ms Maggie Leung (seventh left); the Assistant Director of Social Welfare (Family and Child Welfare), Ms Wendy Chau (seventh right); the District Social Welfare Officer (Central Western, Southern and Islands), Ms Lam Bun-ngee (first right); and the representatives from 11 non-governmental organisations providing foster care service at the event.
The Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To (second left), presented the Long-service Gold Supreme Award to foster families which have been providing foster care service for more than 30 years at the Foster Families Service Award Presentation Ceremony 2026 organised by the Social Welfare Department today (May 17).
The Director of Social Welfare, Mr Edward To (third right), presented awards to foster families which have been providing foster care service for more than 25 years at the Foster Families Service Award Presentation Ceremony 2026 organised by the Social Welfare Department today (May 17).