Tung Wah Board pays courtesy visit to Taipei City Government and communicates on social welfare initiatives
Led by Chairman Dr. John LEE, Tung Wah’s Board of Directors visited Taipei from September 5 to 7, 2009, at the invitation of Taipei Mayor Dr. HAU Lung-bin to attend the Opening Ceremony of the 21st Taipei Summer Deaflympics 2009. A courtesy visit was then paid to the Taipei City Government where the Mayor and Ms. SHIH Yu-Ling, Commissioner of the Department of Social Welfare, received the Board and conducted a fruitful exchange on Taipei’s and Hong Kong’s social welfare initiatives with the staff of Tung Wah’s Community Services Division.
The 21st Taipei Summer Deaflympics is the largest international multi-sport event ever held in Taiwan. Thus the Mayor of Taipei has invited many different organizations from across the globe to witness this special occasion. The opening ceremony was choreographed by internationally-renowned Taiwan director Stan Lai Sheng-chuan, who staged an evening of astounding spectacles at the Taipei Stadium.
On September 7, the Board called upon the Mayor Dr. HAU, Ms. SHIH, and Mr. YANG Hsiao-tung, Chairman of Research, Development & Evaluation Commission, who oversees matters relating to Hong Kong. On behalf of the members of the Board, Dr. LEE expressed his gratitude to the Mayor for his invitation to attend the Opening Ceremony. It is immense recognition of a city’s worth to organize an international sporting event, Dr. LEE remarked, and it brings abundant benefits to the city, such as promoting a healthy lifestyle and enhancing solidarity among the citizens.
Ms. SHIH then conducted a concise presentation on Taipei’s latest social service initiatives, highlighting her Department’s effort in poverty relief through matched savings initiatives, of which Taiwan is a pioneer in the region. Following Taipei’s example of “Family Development Accounts”, Tung Wah has introduced the “Hope Development Account” scheme which provided matched saving accounts for low income youths and housewives. Through financial education and training, participants achieved income improvement and better quality of life.
Embracing a “Welfare-to-Work” principle, Taiwan’s social enterprises are quickly on the rise and garner much support from the public. To gain a better understanding of their successful operation, Tung Wah’s community service staff stayed an extra day to visit a car-wash centre, a bakery and some restaurants run in such manner. “Enterprise Vegetable and Food Processing and Supply Service”, a market-oriented social enterprise operated by Tung Wah, has to date created dozens of new jobs and substantial profits.
Good news awaited the Board as they returned from the Taipei tour. 17-year-old, F.5 student HO Nim-ching of TWGHs Yow Kam Yuen College won a Bronze Medal in Taekwondo competition (Men under 58 kg) at the Taipei Deaflympics – the very first medal won by Hong Kong athletes in the event!
The Taipei delegation comprised Board Members including Chairman Dr. John LEE, Vice Chairmen Mrs. Viola CHAN and Mr. Ivan SZE, Directors Mr. Thomas LI, Ms. FUNG Dan Lai, Dr. Benny KWONG, Mrs. Selena TSENG, Mr. CHAN Chi Sun and Miss Iris LEUNG.
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Dr. John LEE receiving a souvenir from the Mayor Dr. HAU Lung-bin.
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The Board of Directors sharing a photo with the Mayor Dr. HAU Lung-bin (front row, 6th from left) and Ms. SHIH Yu-Ling, Commissioner of the Department of Social Welfare (front row, 6th from right).