On the afternoon of 11th December, 2015, the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council Limited held its 2014-2015 Annual Meeting and kicked off its 50th anniversary celebrations at the H.K.S.K.H. St James’ Church. Ms Carrie Lam, GBS, JP, Chief Secretary for Administration, was invited to be the officiating guest at the ceremony, where she looked back on the Welfare Council’s accomplishments over the past year with the Most Revd Dr Paul Kwong, Archbishop and Primate of the H.K.S.K.H. and Honorary Patron of the Welfare Council, a number of board members and committee members, and close to a few hundred employees. The ceremony doubled as a kick-off ritual for the Council’s 50th anniversary celebrations.
Having experienced half a century of social change, the Welfare Council has been serving the community with humility. At the meeting, Dr Donald Li, SBS, JP, Chairman of the Welfare Council Board of Directors reflected on how it started out with severe shortage of manpower with an annual budget of no more than HK$1 million, and the progress it has made today with nearly 3,000 employees and some HK$900 million worth of annual budget. At the meeting, in addition to expressing his appreciation and encouragement for members of the board and committees, and employees of the Council, Dr Li also announced the Council’s achievement of the “Directors of the Year Awards 2015” by the Hong Kong Institute of Directors—an acknowledgement of the Council’s quality of service and professionalism.
Ms Carrie Lam, GBS, JP, Chief Secretary for Administration, also praised the Council for daring to innovate and pursuing and providing only the best welfare services for the people of Hong Kong over the past five decades. Lam attributed the Council’s ability to provide quality services to the leadership of the Board and the selfless and dedication of its employees who have been serving people with love and care. She urged the Council to continue innovating amid fresh challenges.
Ms Carrie Lam, the Chief Secretary for Administration, Archbishop Paul Kwong and Dr Li were invited to host the lighting ceremony to mark the beginning of the Welfare Council’s 50th anniversary celebrations. The theme song for the 50th anniversary of the Council, “The Song of Life”, which was written and composed by Sheng Kung Hui church member Peter Kwok, was played for the first time to showcase the Council’s following in the footsteps of Christ as it transformed lives with love and innovative services over the past five decades. It was also during the ceremony that the Council officially launched its "Act of Love ‧ Trace Me” mobile application, which encourages participants to take part in the search for missing persons.
Addressing attendees on the work of the organisation from 2014 to 2015, Dr Jane Lee, JP, Director of the Welfare Council, introduced its first-ever charity raffle—a fundraising activity supported by the S.K.H. communities and its newly established Sheng Kung Hui Stroke Rehabilitation Charity Fund which helps financially individuals who lack access to stroke rehabilitation services. Dr Lee also mentioned the Council’s latest projects: an integrated medical and healthcare services centre in Kwun Tong, Centre of Wellness, that provides one-stop stroke rehabilitation services; as well as social enterprise “Grace On Hands” that trains underprivileged women to become craftswomen so as to unleash their potential. With the HK$20 million subsidy from the Social Welfare Department, the Council has ensured the smooth on-site support services of its 33 kindergarten and nurseries; and, with more than HK$7 million from the Education Bureau, the Council organised life planning services for special educational needs secondary students from 45 schools. Through such multi-faceted intervention services, the Council has been enabled to respond to the needs of youngsters, children and their families.
To show appreciation for the Welfare Council’s committed employees, 443 long service awards were presented, with 81 of them going to staff members who have served for more than 20 years. It was apparent that many members of staff saw the organisation as their home.