Sino Group and the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation are delighted to support the Community Living Room project, one of the government’s key initiatives as outlined in the Chief Executive’s 2023 Policy Address.
Each Community Living Room is designed as a communal space where underprivileged families living in sub-divided flats can access safe, friendly and cosy places and facilities that feel like home and enable them to engage in activities such as studying, cooking and dining, as well as partaking in social interactions. The first programme, at Vista in Sham Shui Po, is operated by local charity the Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society, Kowloon.
The 8,000-square-foot venue includes a well-equipped kitchen, living room, dining area, recreational space, library and study room equipped with laptops, nursery areas, counselling rooms, fitness and sports facilities, accessible rest rooms and shower facilities, and an affordable self-service laundry room.
These shared facilities provide parents with a much-needed respite that is conducive to well-being and fostering harmonious relationships, as well as a safe and clean space for their children to do homework and participate in group activities, enabling them to grow healthily. The Lok Sing Tong Benevolent Society, Kowloon also partners with local schools and universities to recruit mentors and volunteers to offer academic and personal development support to children.
The Sham Shui Po Community Living Room is expected to serve at least 500 sub–divided unit households, with about 80,000 attendances a year. Initial feedback has been very positive, and the second Community Living Room, located at Sunshine Plaza in Hung Hom, was opened in July 2024.
‘The Government attaches great importance to the well-being of
grassroots families in Hong Kong. We have been bringing together
the strengths of the Government, the business sector and the
community to enhance their sense of contentment and happiness.
The Pilot Programme on Community Living Room is a new key
initiative under such tripartite collaboration. We invite all sectors
of society to jointly foster a caring and inclusive community by
developing more Community Living Rooms for the benefit of
more grassroots families.’
— Mr Chan Kwok-ki, GBS, IDSM, JP, Chief Secretary for Administration and
Chairperson of Commission on Poverty
THE COMMUNITY
LIVING ROOM
PROVIDES A
WIDE RANGE OF
AMENITIES TO CATER
TO DIVERSE NEEDS:
WELL-EQUIPPED
COMMUNAL KITCHEN
DINING AREA
CHILDREN’S CORNER
LIBRARY AND
STUDY ROOM
COUNSELLING ROOM
FITNESS AND
SPORTS FACILITIES
SHOWER FACILITIES
SELF-SERVICE
LAUNDRY FACILITIES
10
years of
honouring
Hong Kong’s
unsung heroes
600+
nominations
200+
unsung heroes
recognised and
covered
70+
award winners
honoured for
their selfless
contributions
To learn more
‘We are honoured to have presented the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards in collaboration with the South China Morning Post over the past ten years to celebrate Hong Kong’s unsung heroes, who have made Hong Kong a better place. This is the one award about these ordinary yet extraordinary individuals, who truly epitomise the can-do Lion Rock Spirit of care, courage and commitment.
The ten-year milestone is a good reminder of the importance of kindness and positivity. May their Hong Kong spirit continue to inspire us to build a better community for all.’
— Daryl Ng, Deputy Chairman, Sino Group
The Spirit of Community Award
Sek-yiu Kwan and Siu-nam Lee
Mr Sek-yiu Kwan, in his 70s, has been giving blood for 50 consecutive years and has hit a record 191 whole blood donations; meanwhile, Mr Siu-nam Lee holds the record in the city for the highest number of apheresis blood donations. Both actively encourage others to give blood to save lives.
The Spirit of Culture Award
Kin-lok Tam
A resident of Shamshuipo, Mr Kin-lok Tam has founded social enterprise Kaifong Tour to provide a platform for Hong Kong residents to learn more about the folklore and culture of different districts and the communities. He seeks to nurture a sense of connectedness by working with different shops and NGOs to identify hidden gems and stories across Hong Kong and weaving the city’s heritage into new narratives.
