Tang Ho Fund contributes $3 million to help people in need

The Tang Shiu Kin and Ho Tim Charitable Fund has allocated over $3 million to the Social Welfare Department to assist the elderly and those in need in 2003/04.

The Director of Social Welfare, Mr Paul Tang Kwok-wai, thanked the fund for its generosity at its annual distribution of lai see ceremony and New Year''''s celebration party today (January 16).

Mr Hamilton Ho and Mr Richard Tang, representing the fund, presented two cheques totaling over $3 million to Mr Tang.

The first cheque of about $2.7 million is the annual allocation for social relief grant to the Social Welfare Department.

The second cheque of $300,000 was originally earmarked for service projects. However, owing to the outbreak of SARS in April last year, $100,000 was used to support the SWD''''s assistance to people affected by SARS. The amount was spent on publicity materials for distribution to all child care centres and kindergartens to stress the importance of personal hygiene in the prevention of disease.

The remaining $200,000 was used to sponsor lunch gatherings at the launch of the re-engineering of the community support services for the elderly last June. Some 2,000 elderly persons took part in the lunch gatherings in 13 social welfare districts.

To celebrate the Chinese New Year, the fund traditionally distributes lai see (lucky money) of $100 each to 500 elderly persons staying in Tung Wah Group hospitals. At today''''s ceremony, 38 residents of a home for the elderly received lai see packets.

The fund, administered by the Social Welfare Department, also provides immediate financial assistance to individuals and families to cope with sudden hardships.

In 2002/03, the fund paid out $2.5 million to help some 1,000 cases of need.

Ends

Friday, January 16, 2004