Speech by DSCS at the Kick-off Ceremony of the 'Redecoration of Homes of the Elderly' project
Following is the speech by the Deputy Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Rosanna URE, on the Kick-off Ceremony of the 'Redecoration of Homes of the Elderly' project today (September 15):
Mr ONG Ka-lueng, Mr C H YUE, Mrs CHAN MAN Yee-wai, Mr CHAN Chung-yee, our respectable seniors, members of civil service volunteer teams, ladies and gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to be here today to join you in such a meaningful event, which marks the kick-off of the 'Redecoration of Homes of the Elderly'.
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. To promote volunteerism in the civil service, the Civil Service Bureau launched the Civil Service Volunteer Work Programme in 2002 to encourage civil servants to form volunteer teams to help those in need at leisure time. Through this, we can show to the public our caring side.
Since its implementation, the programme has received enthusiastic support from our colleagues. So far, more than 60 staff volunteer teams have been set up. As a continuation and enhancement of the Civil Service Volunteer Work Programme, we launch the Civil Service Volunteer Action this year. This is to encourage more civil servants to take part in volunteer services to serve the community. This activity is more than just a volunteer work event. It is one of the events in celebration of the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
The Civil Service Volunteer Action is a one-year campaign commenced in April 2007. Civil Service Bureau will work together with relevant departments to provide volunteer services under five specific themes, namely 'Protect and Conserve our Environment', 'Share our Work with the Community', 'Care for the Community', 'Promote a Healthy Lifestyle' and 'Promote Arts and Cultural Activities'.
Since the Civil Service Volunteer Action Launching Ceremony cum Tree Planting Day held on May 12, 2007, Civil Service Bureau has worked together with several departments to organise various volunteer services. Under the theme 'Protect and Conserve our Environment', we organised 'Knowing the Hong Kong Wetland Park' jointly with the Architectural Services Department, 'Talks on Climate Change' jointly with the Hong Kong Observatory and 'Fung Yuen Butterfly Conservation Project' jointly with the Highways Department, the Buildings Department and the Drainage Services Department. Under the theme 'Share our Work with the Community', members of volunteer teams of the Hong Kong Observatory and the Information Services Department organised visits tours for students so as to enhance their understanding of the work of these two departments.
Under the theme 'Care for the Community', we organised 'Chinese Cultural Fun Show for Senior Citizens' jointly with the Rating and Valuation Department. On September 1, we jointly organised a visit tour with the Department of Health to an elderly centre to provide health tips to the seniors. In October, we will organise arts and cultural activities jointly with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and the Water Supplies Department.
'Redecoration of Homes of the Elderly' is jointly organised by the Civil Service Bureau, the Architectural Services Department and the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals under the theme 'Care for the Community'. I am pleased to learn that this year's event has received enthusiastic support from our civil service colleagues. About 240 civil servants from 33 bureux/departments have enrolled in this project and about 40 units of the homes of the elderly will be redecorated. It clearly shows that you are among those who are devoted to contributing to the community at leisure time by participating in volunteer work, extending our community-oriented service culture into our private lives.
On behalf of the Civil Service Bureau, I would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks for the tremendous support rendered by the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and the Architectural Services Department to this year's event. I would also like to thank members of civil service volunteer teams for your enthusiastic support.
I hope that we set the motto "We Care, We Volunteer" as our goal and join to service the community and help those in need.
Thank you.
Saturday, September 15, 2007