Philanthropists call for more public welfare initiatives in China

Two well-known Hong Kong philanthropists have expressed their hopes that more public welfare initiatives can be expanded to benefit people and promote social harmony and progress, contributing to the development of Chinese philanthropy.

Speaking in Beijing while receiving a top award, Dr Albert Yeung, chairman of Emperor Group in Hong Kong, said his fifty years of public welfare work have shown that performing acts of kindness is akin to accumulating virtue and that offering help in times of need is more valuable than embellishing what is already sufficient.

Dr Yeung has successfully established "Emperor Foundation" and "Albert Yeung Sau Shing Charity Foundation", funding various public welfare projects including elderly care, education and cultural initiatives. These efforts have led to the construction of 11 elderly care centers and children's welfare homes in the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, providing over 3,000 beds in total.

Dr Yeung was awarded the title of "2024 Philanthropic Leader with Outstanding Contribution" at the recent 2024 Charity Ceremony in Beijing.

To ensure more elderly people can enjoy care in old age and receive timely medical treatment, Dr Yeung pioneered a hospice service in Wuhan, Hubei province, in collaboration with a Hong Kong charity organization — Social Workers Across Borders, becoming a groundbreaking project in the mainland's hospice care field. Additionally, he focused on providing charitable services, including shelter and hospice care, for economically disadvantaged elderly people on the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong who require government-assisted elder support.

Dr Yeung said the Emperor Group will unite with a shared charitable ethos, and continue to participate in volunteer activities, contributing more into public welfare.

Meanwhile, Mr Alex Yeung, vice-chairman of Emperor Group, expressed his hope to lead society by focusing on the development of more young people through the light of charity, and help more young people become the backbone of China's public welfare sector.

While Dr Yeung focuses on promoting elder care and hospice services, Mr Yeung is dedicated to fostering the spirit of philanthropy among the youth and facilitating their upward mobility.

Mr Yeung, who holds such public positions as a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), a member of the 14th Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPPCC, a committee member of All-China Youth Federation and vice-chairman of the Beijing Youth Federation, received the "2024 Philanthropist of the Year" award at the ceremony.

"I have been involved in various social welfare and charity work with my father since I was young, starting with elder care and hospice care services, and gradually expanding to charitable assistance, education, and children welfare," said Mr Yeung. "This has made me realize that engaging in charity requires broad and continuous efforts."

Under Mr. Alex Yeung's continued advocacy, Emperor Group has partnered with domestic and foreign enterprises to provide food donation services for vulnerable groups, initiating food donation campaigns to collect surplus food that meets donation criteria.

Please contact the writers at zhuangqiange@chinadaily.com.cn