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The Secretary for the Civil Service, Miss Denise Yue, today (May 12) encouraged civil servants to set the motto of "we care, we volunteer" as their goal and join to serve the community and help those in need.
Her appeal was made at the Civil Service Volunteer Action Launching Ceremony cum Tree Planting Day.
After officiating at the ceremony with the Acting Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Lau Sin-pang, Miss Yue led some 300 civil servants and their family members to plant saplings at Tai Lam Country Park (Tai Tong), Yuen Long.
"This activity is more than just a voluntary work event. It is one of the events in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region," Miss Yue said.
"As members of the public, civil servants are not only committed to serving the community, but are also willing to give their spare time to help those in need and bring them joy, hope and warmth," she said.
Miss Yue also praised the participants from more than 50 bureaux and departments for contributing to the community in their leisure time by participating in voluntary work and extending their community-oriented service culture into private lives.
Heads of departments, including Permanent Secretary for the Civil Service, Mr Andrew Wong; Commissioner of Inland Revenue, Mrs Alice Lau; Director of Fire Services, Mr Kwok Jing-keung; Director of Accounting Services, Mrs Lucia Li; Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Ho Kwong-wai; Chief Staff Officer of Civil Aid Service, Mr Liu Chi-keung; and Secretary General for the Joint Secretariat for the Advisory Bodies on Civil Service and Judicial Salaries and Conditions of Service, Ms Michelle Li, also led their colleagues to take part in the event.
The Civil Service Volunteer Action will last for a year. From June to October this year, the Civil Service Bureau will work with the relevant departments to provide voluntary services under five specific themes - protect and conserve the environment, share work with the community, caring for the community, promote a healthy lifestyle as well as promote arts and cultural activities.
The launch of the Civil Service Volunteer Action is a continuation and enhancement of the Civil Service Volunteer Work Programme which has been implemented since 2002. This is to encourage more civil servants to take part in voluntary services and serve the community.
Since its implementation, the programme has received enthusiastic support from civil servants. So far, more than 60 staff volunteer teams have been set up.
(Miss Yue's speech has been uploaded onto the Civil Service Bureau website at http://www.csb.gov.hk.)
Ends/Saturday, May 12, 2007
Issued at HKT 13:49
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