The fifth wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in Hong Kong is very challenging with children’s health a particular concern for parents. Sino Group and its philanthropic arm, the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation Limited (‘NTFCF’), today announced a donation of HK$5 million to the Hospital Authority to provide support to the Paediatric services in the public hospitals, including the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital. To step up our support to the underprivileged children and their families confined to home in the fight against the epidemic, the Group is also collaborating with non-governmental organisation to provide temporary accommodation for underprivileged families living in subdivided units which are not suitable for isolation. Online learning courses will also be offered to children confined to home in the fight against the epidemic.
Through the HK$5 million donation to the Hospital Authority, the Group and NTFCF wish to provide appropriate support to the Paediatric services concerned, such as purchase of medical equipment, medicines, emergency assistance and anti-epidemic supplies, with the aim of supporting the hospital services for child patients and their families.
Supporting Underprivileged Families in Need with Temporary Accommodation
In addition, in view of the needs of underprivileged families living in subdivided units and unable to quarantine at home due to neighbouring infected households, the Group is collaborating with the Society for Community Organization to support families living in subdivided units and in urgent need of relocation to a safer environment. The Group is also collaborating with the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups to provide short-term accommodation for this year’s Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination candidates who live in subdivided units. The funding will allow them to take up temporary residence at the Leadership Institute (former Fanling Magistracy) to support their academic and emotional needs.
Collaborating with Ocean Park to Provide Online Learning Opportunities
In line with the Government’s disease prevention measures, students will start their summer holidays early in the fight against the pandemic. The Group is joining hands with Ocean Park to offer a series of online learning activities to 10,000 children aged three to eight during this period. The four-week course will introduce the concept of biodiversity and animal knowledge through storytelling and games, allowing children from underprivileged families to benefit from these interesting activities while staying at home.
Mr Daryl Ng, Deputy Chairman of Sino Group and Director of the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation, said ‘The COVID-19 situation remains severe, and it is of utmost importance that we provide appropriate assistance to underprivileged children and their families during this critical moment. We are thankful to the Hospital Authority, the Society for Community Organization, the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups and Ocean Park Hong Kong for the prompt arrangements to take care of our future generation, among others, to offer comprehensive support to the child patients, children infected with the Conoravirus Disease, and children staying at home amid the pandemic, and their family members. We shall continue to support the Hong Kong Government on its work to combat the epidemic. I am confident that with the close collaboration of all sectors, and with the community coming together to protect themselves, their families, and the community, we shall return to normality soon.’
The fifth wave of the pandemic has brought unprecedented challenges to Hong Kong. The Group has been providing multi-faceted support to the underprivileged through collaborations with various partners, including the donation of 280,000 rapid antigen test kits to the underprivileged through the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong and the Sino volunteer team, distribution of 500 Belun® remoVital remote monitoring systems to care homes, and conversion of the Group’s hotel into a community isolation facility. At this moment in time, all support measures count. Earlier, fresh organic harvests from Farm Together, the Group’s integrated community project, were shared to community partners. Sino Hotels also warmed the hearts of 2,000 elderly with hot soup, through its ‘Hearty Soup Delivery Programme’ this past winter.
