Issue 15 - CREATING BETTER LIFESCAPES

Together We Fight the Virus

webmaster@avalade.com — Tue, 12 May 2020 04:16:23 +0000

Sino Group is playing its humble part in supporting the international and local communities in combating the COVID-19 challenges in collaboration with not-for-profit organisations including the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation, the Hong Kong Innovation Foundation and the Hong Kong Community Foundation.

Mainland China & Hong Kong

Medical Research — donated RMB50 million to Tsinghua University to support medical research on COVID-19 and treatment
Masks — donated more than 5.2 million surgical masks to the Hong Kong Government and more than 60 community partners
Mask-making Machines — donated two fully automated mask-making machines to the Hong Kong Government to help ensure a steady supply of surgical masks
Medical Supplies — donated protective gowns / PPE, N95 respirators, surgical masks with visor, medical face shields, safety goggles and hand sanitisers to the Hospital Authority in Hong Kong
Educational Support — donated 1,000 educational toys and 2,000 mobile data SIM cards to children from less-resourced families to support online learning while classes are suspended in Hong Kong
Cash Donations — donated HK$15 million to the Hospital Authority in Hong Kong to support the medical practitioners. Also made cash donations to more than 30 Hong Kong NGOs to support their community work amid COVID-19

Singapore

Masks — donated one million masks to Singapore
Other Support — donated 1,000 polo shirts and pants as well as provided more than 6,600 bento meal boxes (both lunch and dinner) for medical practitioners and workers; delivered close to 200,000 cans of Yeo’s nutrition drinks to hospitals and migrant workers

Other International Support
(Australia, France, Italy, US)

Masks — donated 400,000 masks to France, Italy and the US to support the international community; donated 8,000 N95 respirators to Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney
Ventilators — donated ten ventilators to Italy and ten ventilators to France

The post Together We Fight the Virus appeared first on CREATING BETTER LIFESCAPES.

Spreading Christmas Cheer

webmaster@avalade.com — Fri, 08 May 2020 10:56:09 +0000

In the latest effort, the Group partnered with ChickenSoup Foundation, one of the initiative’s 13 beneficiaries, which supports less-resourced families and promotes intergenerational inclusion through workshops and empowerment programmes. A harvesting session was held at Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel in November 2019, which saw 20 children and elderly people learn gardening and harvest produce on its organic farm. The participants enjoyed farming and harvesting the farm’s fresh produce before joining the Gold Coast Green Journey to learn more about the hotel’s eco-programmes, then concluded the day with a party held in their honour. Both young and old participants brought home a renewed sense of family harmony, happy memories and fresh seasonal produce.

The post Spreading Christmas Cheer appeared first on CREATING BETTER LIFESCAPES.

Nurturing the Next Generation of Writers

webmaster@avalade.com — Fri, 08 May 2020 10:41:19 +0000

Form 4 students from local secondary schools and college freshmen who are interested in writing and journalism have been selected based on their applications, and so far 300 budding writers — selected from close to 2,600 applications — have completed the programme.

The programme begins with a workshop, at which the Sino Junior Reporters learn English news writing and interviewing skills from a seasoned journalist; they then go on a cultural tour to conduct research for their stories and interview executives. After the students submitted their articles over the summer break, five winners were chosen, with their work published on yp.scmp.com and the initiative’s dedicated Facebook page.

In the sixth edition, the aspiring writers were tasked to write about ‘green living’. They toured Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel and Skyline Tower to learn more about the Group’s green journey. The Sino Junior Reporters appreciated the opportunity to hone their writing skills, and were impressed by what they saw.

Learn more about the Sino Junior Report Programme and read the winning entries on the official Facebook page.

The post Nurturing the Next Generation of Writers appeared first on CREATING BETTER LIFESCAPES.

Serving the Community with Care

webmaster@avalade.com — Fri, 08 May 2020 10:33:14 +0000

To achieve this in a more focused way, we established Sino Caring Friends in 2008; the initiative encourages further participation in these worthwhile activities, and through it our team continued to help people in need in 2019.

In June 2019, 17 residents of Ho Shing Home for the Elderly (sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen) visited Ocean Park with Sino Caring Friends. For some, it was the frst time they had visited the home-grown Hong Kong attraction. ‘In addition to visiting Ocean Park, they appreciate the care and efforts of Sino Caring Friends. Many of them are eager to share their happiness with their family members,’ Social Work Team Leader Mr Yeung shared.

Water fun continued to be a highlight in 2019. In August, we hosted the Sino Care × HKSR Waterwheel Fun Day at Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel and Golden Beach. Wheelchair users from The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation, accompanied by Sino Caring Friends and volunteers from the Hong Kong Fire Services Department, enjoyed water fun thanks to the Waterwheel flotation devices.

For some, the occasion was the first time they had visited the popular Hong Kong attraction

At Mid-Autumn Festival, a time for reunion, Sino Caring Friends and social workers from the Society for Community Organization visited 55 less-privileged households in Sham Shui Po. The team shared not only gift bags, but happy moments and festive cheer with the families.

Promoting volunteering continues to be an important focus. In October, we sponsored more than 140 staff members and their families and friends to participate in the AVS Run & Walk for Volunteering, the Agency for Volunteer Service’s annual fundraising event. The funds raised go towards promoting the sustainable development of volunteerism in Hong Kong. The Group received the Top Fundraisers Award (Team) — Bronze and the Most Supportive Team Award — Silver.

December brings Christmas, and in the spirit of sharing and caring, Sino Caring Friends organised a series of Christmas parties in collaboration with our NGO partners to celebrate festive season. Volunteers packed gifts and learnt balloon twisting to jazz up the celebrations held with more than 600 families. We held Christmas gatherings with residents of the Ho Shing Home for the Elderly (sponsored by Sik Sik Yuen), where we shared hotpot meals and made handcrafts together, and with the children of the Precious Blood Children’s Village, where we enjoyed a barbecue. We brought festival cheer to other less-privileged children with parties at the Evangelical Free Church of China — Evangel Children’s Home and the SAHK Pak Tin Pre-school Centre. Thanks to the support of the Society for Community Organization and the YWCA Sham Shui Po Integrated Social Service Centre, we spent two days visiting the homes of families in Sham Shui Po, sharing gifts and joy.

Our heartfelt thanks to our community partners and Sino Caring Friends, who continue to help us cheer up the community.

At Mid-Autumn Festival, Sino Caring Friends and social workers from Hong Kong’s Society for Community Organization visited less-resourced households to share gift bags and festive cheer. At Christmas, the team celebrated with the elderly and less- resourced children, bringing cheer, gifts and a special appearance by Santa Claus

Sino Caring Friends and volunteers from the Hong Kong Fire Services Department also hosted wheelchair users from The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation at the Sino Care × HKSR Waterwheel Fun Day at the Hong Kong Gold Coast Hotel and Golden Beach

The post Serving the Community with Care appeared first on CREATING BETTER LIFESCAPES.

Paying Tribute to Hong Kong’s Unsung Heroes

webmaster@avalade.com — Fri, 08 May 2020 04:39:52 +0000

The Spirit of Hong Kong Awards came to life to pay tribute to these unsung heroes, whose quiet work has made Hong Kong a better and kinder place.

Since 2013, the Group has jointly presented the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards with the South China Morning Post to shine a light on these wonderful individuals, celebrating their community spirit and selfless dedication while inspiring many others.

The individual and group awards are selected by a judging panel comprising leaders from business, social services, technology and the two co-organisers, the South China Morning Post and the Group. The public are also invited to vote to select the People’s Choice Award. 2019 saw a roster of worthy winners, who embody the Lion Rock Spirit of Hong Kong:

Rehabaid Society CEO Cecilia Lam received the Spirit of Community Award for her work in changing the way the city views rehabilitation and support services.
University of Hong Kong Professor Stephen Chu received the Spirit of Culture Award for his work in recording and preserving Canto-pop lyrics and promoting them as pop culture history.
Codex Genetics founders Aldrin Yim and Allen Yu received the Spirit of Innovation Award for the development of a faster method of genetic screening. (Read more about their story in Genetic Breakthrough Brings Hope.)
Chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of the Blind Tang Kwong Po received the Spirit of Perseverance Award for overcoming his own challenges with blindness and going on to help other vision-impaired people.
Students Alex Yu, Cissy Lu, Dickson Yau, Francisca Lam and Sana Khullar received the Spirit of Youth Award for their efforts in making English learning more accessible to less-privileged children.
The Super Golden Age volunteer team received the Spirit of Teamwork Award (Group) for their work in providing food to needy senior citizens.
Fung Heung Lan received the Lion Rock People’s Choice Award for her traditional fish-farming work and for helping to preserve the city’s ponds.

In addition, more than 40 current and past winners of the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards received recognition at a Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation presentation ceremony held in September 2019, alongside 50 non-governmental organisations and social enterprises, in further tribute to their staunch support to the community.

The Awards are once again set to recognise these everyday heroes in 2020. We look forward to sharing their stories.

The winners of the 2019 Spirit of Hong Kong Awards were recognised at the awards ceremony in September 2019. Sino Group has presented the awards in partnership with the South China Morning Post since 2013.

The post Paying Tribute to Hong Kong’s Unsung Heroes appeared first on CREATING BETTER LIFESCAPES.

Visionary Approach

webmaster@avalade.com — Fri, 08 May 2020 02:03:34 +0000

Vision underpins many elements of our lives; for children, it’s a critical part of learning. Modern city life makes children even more prone to myopia, the treatment of which is often costly for those from underprivileged families.

A new invention jointly developed by The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Japanese company Hoya Vision offers hope. The Defocus Incorporated Multiple Segments (DIMS) spectacle lens has been proven to control the progression of myopia. It won the Grand Prize, Grand Award and Gold Medal at the 46^th International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, Switzerland, in April 2018, in addition to a host of other coveted awards. Clinical trials of DIMS show that children’s myopia progression has been reduced by an average of 59 per cent, with more than 20 per cent of children not showing any progression at all.

The Hong Kong Innovation Foundation collaborated with The Hong Kong Polytechnic University on the PolyU-HKIF Children Eye Care Project. The project came to life with the vision of empowering more children from underprivileged families: through its two-year programme, 200 students will be prescribed DIMS spectacles, and optical check-ups conducted every six months to track progress.

How Does DIMS Work?

In a myopic eye, light rays focus in front of the retina rather than on it, making images blurry. DIMS uses micro-engineered segments around the centre of the lens to generate an additional focal plane in front of the retina, which can retard myopia. Moreover, the lens makes use of the eye’s natural ability to adapt and shape to receive focused images, in effect guiding the growth of the eyeball in a positive way.

The post Visionary Approach appeared first on CREATING BETTER LIFESCAPES.

Genetic Breakthrough Brings Hope

webmaster@avalade.com — Thu, 07 May 2020 10:41:58 +0000

Since 2013, the South China Morning Post and Sino Group have been paying tribute to the city’s unsung heroes through the Spirit of Hong Kong Awards.

One of the categories, the Spirit of Innovation Award, recognises individuals or groups that have developed breakthrough technologies with far-reaching, positive impacts on society. The winner of the 2019 innovation category went to bioinformatics company Codex Genetics for its efforts in improving the efficiency of the genetic screening process, an evaluation method that is particularly critical for patients suffering from rare diseases.

The company’s founders Allen Yu and Aldrin Yim met when they studied biochemistry at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, researching a group of rare hereditary brain diseases known Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA). Allen was researching cancer and neurological diseases at the time, and Aldrin was specialising in immunology. They came together to discuss how they could best apply their academic knowledge to help patients with rare neurological conditions such as SCA.

‘At the laboratory, we handle human disease data sets every day,’ says Aldrin. ‘But I was aware that behind every data set, a patient’s life was at stake. Rather than just study DNA sequencing, we wanted to use the information we gathered to help people. We wanted to do more than just write academic papers — we wanted to translate our knowledge into practice.’

‘At the laboratory, we handle human disease data sets every day. But I was aware that behind every data set, a patient’s life was at stake. Rather than just study DNA sequencing, we wanted to use the information we gathered to help people. We wanted to do more than just write academic papers — we wanted to translate our knowledge into practice.’
— Aldrim Yim, Co-founder, Codex Genetics

One of the biggest challenges with rare neurodegenerative diseases is that their complexity makes them difficult to diagnose at their onset, so genetic screening is the best way to detect them. However, genetic screening is an expensive procedure, and government funding unfortunately cannot provide the service for everyone who may need it. In addition, until a diagnosis has been made, the patient is unable to receive any government subsidies or reimbursements from their insurance providers, which might deprive them of the treatments they require.

‘Because of all the referrals and the back and forth between different doctors and medical departments, as well as the different clinical diagnostic tests required, it usually takes between five and fifteen years from the time that the first clinical symptoms show up in a patient to when a final diagnosis can be made,’ says Aldrin. ‘By that time, the patient might already be in a wheelchair or bedridden. Early detection can help patients get better access to healthcare and more effective disease management solutions, which will in turn improve their quality and span of life.’

In 2013, Allen and Aldrin founded Codex Genetics on an AI-powered analytics technology that combines genetic and clinical data to provide holistic, clinically actionable disease management solutions, with a focus on helping patients with genetic disorders. They also developed a breakthrough genetic screening test system, CoGensis, which together with their analytics delivers highly accurate results within one month from the time of testing, reducing waiting time significantly in addition to making testing affordable.

By integrating genetic information gathered through big data techniques with clinical evidence such as MRI imaging, X-rays and ultrasounds, Codex screening produces more precise data; through this, it bridges the gaps between clinicians, specialists and patients to speed up the diagnostic process and enable more effective disease management.

All degenerative diseases have a slow progression, so more precise and earlier diagnosis not only helps patients get better- targeted treatment, but can also help them with family and life planning,’ says Allen. ‘The Codex approach not only provides the most likely diagnosis, it also charts the progression of rare diseases and bridges the gap between medical professions and patients. This means that with early diagnosis, a patient can plan ahead for life events like parenthood, or enrol in occupational therapy if needed.’

Allen and Aldrin have been able to extend Codex’s use into post-diagnosis cancer screening, leading to better disease management. In the near future, the duo will expand their laboratory to further reduce the turnaround time for tests and improve their industry accreditation ratings.

‘Winning the Spirit of Hong Kong Innovation Award has helped us to get more recognition and resources. It has increased public awareness of rare neurodegenerative diseases, and we hope it spurs even more innovations in the next wave of genetic screening,’ says Allen.

WHAT IS CODEX COGENESIS™ NEURO?

Diagnosing neurodegenerative disorders is technically challenging and time-intensive. CoGENESIS Neuro accelerates the diagnostic process by specifically targeting 462 neuro-related regions on the genome that are associated with 200 neurodegenerative diseases. This allows a highly accurate genetic profiling of all known neuro-disease regions with a fast turnover time of two months.

First, the patient’s saliva is obtained through the CoGensis test kit, which Codex Genetics sends to the patient or their clinician. Once the patient’s saliva is obtained, the sealed kit is returned to the Codex Genetics laboratory, where scientists isolate the patient’s DNA from the sample and perform high-throughput genetic screening. Through the analysis of the patient’s DNA sequencing, the Codex Genetics team is able to narrow down the possible range of diseases to the most likely one or two. The results are then sent to the patient’s clinician, who carries out validation tests to confirm a diagnosis.

The post Genetic Breakthrough Brings Hope appeared first on CREATING BETTER LIFESCAPES.

Cooking from the Heart

webmaster@avalade.com — Wed, 06 May 2020 09:17:37 +0000

So Wai Hon is a popular face in the Fanling neighbourhood, not only because he has been running a restaurant in the area for two decades, but also because he visits nearby wet markets every day to source fresh ingredients for his kitchen.

‘I’m a very hands-on person,’ says the owner of Sun Hon Kee restaurant, a 30-year-old Hakka restaurant frequented by A-list celebrities including Chow Yun-fat. ‘When shopping in the market, I’m often approached by locals asking for cooking ideas. I like sharing and making friends with them. It makes me happy.’

Born into a fishing family, So found a natural love for cooking at an early age as he helped his friends in their coastal village to make delicacies like sun-dried shrimps and salted fish. It was then that he developed his skills in Hakka cooking.

Traditional Hakka cuisine, a culinary tradition from southern China, is characterised by braised dishes, stews and the use of preserved ingredients. Food is often strongly flavoured, as it is supposed to be served with rice.

Surrounded by glass walls, the interior is light-filled and outfitted with lanterns in vibrant red, a hue endowed with good fortune for Hakka people.

‘My childhood memories of household dishes inspire the food I serve today,’ says So, who started his career with a street stall at a dai pai dong in Sha Tau Kok, a border village in the New Territories. Two years later, he opened his first restaurant in the area, called Hon Kee, which had operated for about a decade before it relocated to Fanling in 2000.

Rebranded as Sun Hon Kee (‘the new Hon Kee’), the shop in Fanling had operated for some 20 years from Luen Wo Market before relocating to the nearby Commune Modern in 2019. ‘I hesitated at first because moving is costly,’ So recalls, ‘but the nice property and clean surroundings calmed my nerves.’

Adjacent to Luen Wo Market, a historic building dating back to 1951, Commune Modern is an upscale residential and commercial project completed in 2018 that blends in with the established neighbourhood.

Operating from a managed retail property as opposed to a streetside store has its own unique benefits too. ‘The shopping mall looks especially nice at night, making it a good location for business,’ says So. ‘With a high ceiling, this space is much airier and more comfortable,’ he adds of the new premises, which can accommodate up to 90 guests. Surrounded by glass walls, the interior is light-filled and outfitted with lanterns in vibrant red, a hue endowed with good fortune for Hakka people.

With a tasteful balance of traditional charm and modern finishes, the new address has drawn more new customers and, as a result, more attention to Hakka food.

‘When I first settled in Fanling, the Hakka dining scene was in decline,’ So says, recalling the peak of Hakka cuisine in the sixties, when Hong Kong’s Chinese restaurant scene was largely made up of Guangdong and Hakka eateries. Thus, with a self-imposed task of bringing Hakka delicacies back to the table, So put his own spin on some of the most famous Hakka classics to cater to local tastes, like his dish of pork with salted vegetables.

The new airy, contemporary space in Commune Modern features broad street frontage.

‘We use only fresh pork belly for this dish, drizzled with rice wine that has 50 per cent alcohol and a mixture of five-spice powder, soy source and sugar. The pork belly is then steamed for three hours to bring out a sticky texture that melts in the mouth,’ says So, adding that most restaurants use frozen pork for the dish, which may result in a greasy texture. ‘If I don’t have fresh ingredients, I’d rather take a dish off the menu,’ he says.

Fish is also a common feature in Hakka cuisine, and is often served in broth. The chef uses local catch from Hong Kong waters to ensure freshness. ‘In order for the fish to absorb the broth, it’s first pan-fried and then braised on high heat to bring out the umami flavour. We don’t add cornflour, which makes the broth too thick, and we use local cherry tomatoes for the finishing touch.’

Top-quality ingredients and a thoughtful approach to food have earned So a strong base of loyal customers. With word-of-mouth being essential for business survival and growth, So takes the dining experience seriously. For example, he doesn’t limit seating times for guests, explaining that ‘Sometimes they like mingling for hours over expensive wines they bring. I welcome it.’

Building relationships with customers is also a strong suit. ‘I handle public relations here!’ jokes So. ‘I like to talk to my guests and introduce the dishes myself.’ Frequent customers, he adds, often leave it up to him to decide on the dishes. The two he most often recommends are stir-fried squid and, of course, pork with salted vegetables.

And to keep up his high standards, So intends to stay put. ‘I prefer to run my business in a familiar area that suits me,’ he concludes.

Sun Hon Kee
Shop G01, G/F, Commune Modern
28 Wo Fung Street
Fanling

The post Cooking from the Heart appeared first on CREATING BETTER LIFESCAPES.

Innovating for Our Future

webmaster@avalade.com — Wed, 06 May 2020 08:47:44 +0000

The HKIF strives to deliver a holistic innovation ecosystem. The younger generation is a focal point of its work, and education programmes are key. Programmes include the flagship Go Code initiative, which teaches students to code their own games and apps; Crazy Circuit, as the name suggests, teaches students science and engineering through the creation of circuits; while through Robot Maker, students create one-of-a-kind robots and in the process learn about mechanics, electronics and robotics, as well as coding software to command the robots. Comprising multiple levels to cater for different ages, together they form a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) curriculum that takes a creative approach to science.

The HKIF also connects industry players, innovators, academic institutions and like-minded partners. The OC STEM Lab was launched to give students more exposure to STEM and to spark the public’s interest in science. It is strategically located in a family-friendly shopping mall that is accessible to all. A series of collaborations with universities such as the HKUST-Sino One Million Dollar Entrepreneurship Competition and the HKU DreamCatchers 100K Entrepreneurship Seed Fund Programme engages university students and alumni, as does the HKIF Robotic Architecture Series with the University of Hong Kong. For those already working, X-Lab provides co-working space for start-ups to expand, and Sino Inno Lab is a sandbox platform for start-ups and technology companies to test out their inventions and facilitate co-creations with like-minded partners.

Our collaborations with academia and consultants have led to proprietary urban solutions like the award-winning City Air Purification System, which purifies air in open space, and the In-building Hydropower System, which generates electricity by utilising unused waterhead in pipes.

These herald our innovation journey together.

The post Innovating for Our Future appeared first on CREATING BETTER LIFESCAPES.