Volunteer service widely supported by public

Thanks to the efforts of non-governmental organisations, relevant government departments and different sectors of the community, volunteer service is widely supported by the public and has become part of our daily lives.

The wife of the Chief Executive and Volunteer-in-Chief, Mrs Betty Tung, made the remarks at the Volunteer Award Presentation Ceremony 2004 at Southorn Stadium this afternoon (December 4).

Since the promotion of volunteer service in 1998 to the end of October this year, more than 466,000 registered volunteers and more than 1,200 registered organisations have committed to volunteer service. Last year, volunteers have devoted more than 11 million hours of service to the community.

At today''''''''s ceremony, the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Paul Tang Kwok-wai, thanked volunteers and organisations for their dedication to volunteer work and contributions to society. He also encouraged more people to join the volunteer service to serve the society.

The annual awards presentation is organised by the SWD''''''''s Steering Committee on the Promotion of Volunteer Service, to promote volunteer service and encourage people from all walks of life to help create a more harmonious community.

It is also hoped to develop the tripartite partnership of government, private and third sector under the context of volunteering and to cultivate social cohesiveness among different sectors in the territory.

More than 40,000 volunteer certificates were awarded to enthusiastic volunteers last year. The presentation ceremony today commended 200 volunteers who had served the community for more than 20 years and individual volunteers and volunteer organisations that offered the Highest Number of Service Hours.

A promotional event entitled "Origami Action - Colouring the Life" was launched in June this year to mobilise the volunteers to produce hand-made "pot of flowers" origami to the underprivileged families. Winners of a series of competitions run by the Origami Action were also presented with awards.

A new series of television Announcement of Public Interest (TV API) showing the joy of young people, corporate volunteer team and public to help others was premiered during the ceremony. The new series is composed of three 30-second TV APIs to further sustain the momentum of volunteering.

Also present at the ceremony were the Convenor of the Sub-committee on the Promotion of Student and Youth Volunteering, Mrs Lina Lo Yan Hau-yee; the Convenor of Sub-committee on the Promotion of Volunteering in Community Organisations, Mrs Sophia Dan; the Convenor of the Sub-committee on the Promotion of Corporate Volunteering, Mr Yeung Ka-sing; and the Convenor of the Sub-committee on the Promotion and Publicity of Volunteer Service, Mr Charles Yang.

End

Saturday, December 4, 2004