Sixth SHKP Poon Choi lunch programme celebrates Year of the Monkey with 1,700 seniors from Wan Chai and Sha Tin

Sun Hung Kai Properties Limited (SHKP) is holding Poon Choi lunches at Noah's Ark on two consecutive Sundays for about 1,700 seniors from Wan Chai and Sha Tin to celebrate the Year of the Monkey. The first one yesterday was hosted by Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin-chung and SHKP Executive Director Adam Kwok, who offered their good wishes to seniors from Wan Chai. SHKP has organized Poon Choi lunches for six years to serve the community in the spirit of Building Homes with Heart.

Adam Kwok said, 'Our Building Homes with Heart Caring Initiative channels multiple efforts to show care for different segments of society. We have visited disadvantaged families and seniors over the years to help with renovations or give out treats during festivals like Tuen Ng or Mid-Autumn. In the year ahead, we will continue to unite groups and individual volunteers who care about Hong Kong and the underprivileged by staging or supporting a range of community activities that benefit those in need in the spirit of mutual help and support.' SHKP volunteers and social service agencies are visiting elderly residents around the territory during Chinese New Year with more than 7,000 bags of useful items for seniors.

Matthew Cheung said, 'The Labour and Welfare Bureau has been implementing proactive measures under its purview. Recurrent expenditure on social welfare for 2016-17 is estimated at $66.2 billion, accounting for 19% of recurrent government expenditure. This has doubled when compared with 10 years ago. We attach great importance to the well-being of the elderly. The current term of the Government introduced the Old Age Living Allowance soon after taking office, currently benefitting around 430,000 senior citizens. The Public Transport Fare Concession Scheme for the Elderly and Eligible Persons with Disabilities scheme that allows seniors and eligible persons with disabilities to travel at $2 per trip is being extended to green minibuses in phases to encourage community participation and active ageing. Our aim is to build a caring society for the elderly in Hong Kong.'

SHKP has held annual Poon Choi lunches for seniors in Sham Shui Po, Kowloon City, Kwai Tsing, Wong Tai Sin, Tuen Mun, Yuen Long and other areas as part of its Building Homes with Heart Caring Initiative since 2011. These events and related home visits in tandem with dozens of social service agencies have benefited more than 40,000 people over the years.

Noah's Ark, where the Poon Choi lunches take place, was the world's first theme park with a full-scale replica of the vessel in the ancient story. The park is on the tranquil Ma Wan Island and has sweeping views of the Tsing Ma Bridge and Rambler Channel away from the bustle of the city. The many attractions include an Ark Garden, Ark Expo, Treasure House, Ark Life Education House and the new Solar Tower. The combination of play, educational tours and conservation promotes love, harmony and positive values in the community, and offers a new experience for international visitors.

Sun Hung Kai Properties Ltd. issued this content on 29 February 2016 and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 29 February 2016 09:45:22 UTC

Original Document: http://www.shkp.com/en-US/Pages/press-release-detail/2275