Building Liveable and Vibrant Communities
Through our unwavering commitment to understanding and addressing our communities’ unique needs and aspirations, we strive to make a positive impact and drive sustainable change.
During the Reporting Period, we continue to leverage our resources, talents, and expertise to give vulnerable groups a helping hand with heart. We hope to make a difference in people’s lives through various programmes, and help address pressing social issues.
Developing Homes Suited for the Ageing Population
Given the rise of the ageing population in Hong Kong, taking care of senior citizens has become one of our core focuses. The Group supported the research on the ageing population, aiming to provide a sustainable community where the elderly can enjoy various social, entertainment and care services to enhance their quality of life and well-being.
The Group commissioned the Jockey Club Institute of Ageing of The Chinese University of Hong Kong to conduct a five-year study on providing high-quality housing for the elderly community. One of the marked deliverables was to develop the “Residential Design Guide for Healthy Ageing in Hong Kong”, which serves as the blueprint for providing high-quality housing for the elderly community in our residential development projects. Age-friendly features, including wider corridors and lifts, barrier-free facilities, and others, would be incorporated into the project design to accommodate customers who wish to age in place. Mount Anderson, our residential project at Anderson Road, is a pioneer in adopting the new concept of an all-age living community.
To continue our endeavours, the Group is diversifying its business portfolio to serve ageing communities better. In August 2022, the Group announced the acquisition of approximately 56.15% interest in Pine Care Group Limited from its controlling shareholders for a total of about HK$450 million. The acquisition marked the beginning of our journey to develop our healthcare and elderly care business.
Organising the Chinachem Group Sustainability Conference 2021
Organised by the Group and co-organised by the Hong Kong Green Building Council (HKGBC), the Chinachem Group Sustainability Conference 2021 was held on 7 May 2021. Carrying the theme “Creating a Sustainable and Healthy Community for All Ages”, the Conference featured 12 renowned local and overseas speakers from government organisations, academia and the architectural, technology and financial sectors. They were invited to share the best practices and explore multi-dimensional solutions to shape a smart city for all ages, drawing on insights learnt from the pandemic. The Conference was attended by around 300 representatives and experts from various industries.
Launching the Care for the Elderly Ambassador Programme
Since early 2021, a three-year “Care for the Elderly Ambassador Programme” has been launched by the Group in collaboration with the Senior Citizen Home Safety Association, a non-profit charitable organisation aiming to improve the quality of life for seniors ageing in place. This programme encompasses three main activities—Home Visits to the Elderly, Care over the Phone and School Talks on Life Education and Elderly Care—to strengthen the bonds of care between the elderly and youth, especially in the midst of the pandemic.
Organising the "Hearts in Motion Ding! Ding! Ding!" activity
While it is always worthwhile to experience the city’s multi-faceted culture, we recognise that some people, especially those from low-income households, may yet to have the opportunity to do so. The “Hearts in Motion Ding! Ding! Ding!” activity provided free tram tours to elderly, students and underprivileged members of the communities including the low-income families and intellectually disadvantaged. The activity introduced the riders to Hong Kong’s rich history and culture and helped them enhance their understanding and appreciation for heritage conservation.
These diverse groups were introduced to the history and folklore of their home city by way of a pleasant, educational and entertaining ride on the Chinachem tram, where the tram body was specially made over for the event. On each journey, a professional docent told stories of the passing neighbourhoods, connecting past with present and highlighting the value of conserving and enhancing the city’s fabric. From Sheung Wan to Causeway Bay, the tour introduced its riders to a wide variety of prominent and hidden features of the cityscape, buildings that have been lost, and landmarks that have been preserved.
With support from various charity organisations and other groups, more than 3,000 beneficiaries took part in the activity.
Offering Safe Shelter for the Vulnerable
Hong Kong is known for its wealth but is also home to hundreds of thousands of low-income families. Following 3Ps, the Group has committed to utilising our resources to help under-resourced families. Since 2019, we teamed up with Habitat for Humanity Hong Kong, which is a global non-profit organisation, that aims to build simple and affordable houses in various countries. In 2022, the Group provided four units of a vacant building in Jordan, Hong Kong. Urban Ecologies Design Lab under the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Hong Kong and Habitat for Humanity converted the four units into temporary accommodations for the homeless. The “Project Home Works” programme was also launched to offer house repairing services to the under-resourced elderly and the physically disabled. The programme strives to improve their housing conditions, build community, and convey hope and happiness to the communities.
Supporting the “Run to the Moon” Campaign
The Group supported the “Run to the Moon” campaign organised by the F&B Run Club to raise funds for children with rare diseases and underprivileged youth. More than sixty colleagues participated in the kick-off run in September 2021. The goal was to run, hike or walk 384,000 kilometres, the distance between the Earth and the moon. Apart from engaging in the fundraising campaign, the Group donated HK$250,000 to the InspiringHK Sports Foundation for underprivileged children living in Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing or whose parents work in the F&B industry, providing them with standardised and professional running training.
Arranging the special screening of “Never Settle”
We arranged a special screening of an inspiring movie, Never Settle, a documentary about the “Urban Climb 300M+” challenge. A true story about disabled climber Lai Chi-wai, who climbed Nina Tower with his wheelchair, it encourages people to face the challenges in life together bravely and instils respect for people with disabilities for a more inclusive society.
