***********************************************************
Committed volunteers and volunteer organisations were highly commended today (December 2) by the wife of the Chief Executive and Volunteer-in-Chief, Mrs Selina Tsang for their selfless dedication to volunteer service.
Speaking at the Hong Kong Volunteer Award Presentation Ceremony 2006, Mrs Tsang said: "As volunteers, we have a long lasting joy and profound impression for knowing that we can help the people in need, no matter how trivial it is."
She was pleased to see that Hong Kong people, though busy, were not indifferent and charitable acts were often seen everywhere.
She thanked members of the Social Welfare Department's Steering Committee on the Promotion of Volunteer Service and other working groups for jointly promoting volunteer movement.
"They have built up a strong volunteer team in various sectors of the community," she said.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the Director of Social Welfare, Mr Paul Tang Kwok-wai said, "2006 is a milestone for the Steering Committee and other working groups. We have invited more friends of various sectors to join us to inject new momentum into the promotion work. Early this year, we worked together in stipulating a new strategy for the promotion, training and practical work."
"We are striving to achieve our mission of full public participation in volunteer service. We will mobilise volunteers and put our thinking into action. We will enhance the status of volunteers and make Hong Kong a warmer society," Mr Tang said.
The annual award presentation is organised by the Social Welfare Department's Steering Committee on the Promotion of Volunteer Service to recognise the contribution of volunteers and further promote the volunteer movement.
Awards were presented today to commend the outstanding contribution of various types of volunteers. In 2005, more than 50,000 volunteer certificates were issued to committed volunteers, including 50 volunteers who had served the community for more than 20 years. These 50 committed volunteers were commended today along with individual volunteers and volunteer organisations who received the Highest Number of Service Hours Award.
Twenty Hong Kong Outstanding Youth Volunteers 2006-2007 and the award-winning resident volunteer teams of "Caring Estate - Most Caring Project" were also honoured on stage for their devotion in serving the community. Please see annex for a list of awardees.
Also present at today's ceremony were the Convenor of the Sub-committee on the Promotion of Corporate Volunteering, Mr Herman Hui; Convenor of the Sub-committee on the Promotion of Volunteering in Community Organisations, Mr Caecage Siu Chor-kee; and Convenor of the Sub-committee on the Promotion of Student and Youth Volunteering, Mr Lee Kam-chung.
Ends/Saturday, December 2, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:48
NNNN
