HONG KONG (SE): The Caritas Charity TV Show, organised by Friends of Caritas, was broadcast on TVB Jade on July 8. The show raised over HK$13 million as of July 13, not yet taking into account a later matching donation. This is one of the highlights of Caritas-Hong Kong’s 70th anniversary celebrations
The show began with a lighting ceremony officiated by financial secretary, Paul Chan Mo-po; Cardinal-elect Stephen Chow Sau Yan, SJ; chairperson of Wofoo Foundation and of the preparation committee for the show Joseph Lee Chung-tak; the chairperson of the Caritas Fund Raising Committee and senior business director of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China [Asia] Jimmy Jim Wai-ki; the chairperson of Friends of Caritas, Theresa Ng Choi-yuk and its advisor Andrew Chan Tak-kuen; and chairperson of Caritas’ board of management, Nicholas Ng Wing-fui.
The guests placed plaques representing love, warmth, food, hope, knowledge and light on the ceremony table, symbolising what Caritas provides for Hong Kongers.
John Cardinal Tong Hon, bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, opened the performance with a violin accompaniment to the song, “You raise me up”, sung by Vivian Koo Ya-wei and the choir of St. Margaret’s Church.
Among the performers that day were popular Hong Kong singers, pianist Colleen Lee, the Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Orchestra, and the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, led by Tsui Ying-fai. Music producer, Johnny Yim Lai-hang, was musical director of the event.
A presentation of Caritas’ present services was featured between musical performances. Among them were art programmes for individuals with disabilities, community services for people living in subdivided flats, strengthening medical facilities and subsidising operating costs with donations, and facilities at the Caritas Institute for Higher Education for disabled students and services for elderly people suffering from depression.
The show’s host, Elena Kong May-yee, presented a historical review of Caritas over the past seven decades, looking back at its origins in 1953 as a small social welfare unit and its longtime contributions to education by setting up schools and vocational training programmes in the 1960s.
It opened special schools in the 1970s. Its first community centre was set up in Aberdeen in 1962 and other community centres under government subsidy in the 1980s.
In 1964, Caritas Hospital [now the Caritas Medical Centre] was established, while clinics were opened in the 1970s, and later in the 1990s, it began to manage the Canossa Hospital and Precious Blood Hospital.
There were 78 donation hotlines sponsored by Make The Right Call. For the public to show their care and concern for the needy, donation channels and matching donations are still open until the end of August.
