Director
Mr Benson Ng Yuk-ming
For five decades, H.K.S.K.H. Lady MacLehose Centre ("Organization") has steadfastly upheld the Christian motto "Not to be served, but to serve," delivering comprehensive professional social services across age groups, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Through societal development, the Organization has maintained unwavering support for grassroots communities, addressing evolving needs with dedication. This half-century milestone exemplifies our service excellence, culminating in the momentous celebration of our 50th Anniversary.
On 25 November 2023, the Organization commemorated this milestone with a Thanksgiving Eucharist at Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui All Saints' Cathedral, presided over by the Most Revd Andrew Chan Au-ming. The subsequent 50th Annual Meeting and Golden Jubilee Launch at S.K.H. All Saints' Middle School was graced by Mr. Chris Sun Yuk-han, J.P., Secretary for Labour and Welfare. The occasion drew over 220 distinguished guests, comprising foundation representatives, corporate partners, affiliated organizations, senior volunteers, church delegates, and Organization personnel, marking this historic achievement.
While organizing a series of 50th Anniversary celebration activities, the Organization has also actively developed various services in response to social developments over the past year. This year, the Organization has been awarded the operation of the Social Work Service for Pre-primary Institutions in Kwai Tsing District, following the Social Welfare Department's service regularization. The "Kids in Love – Social Work Service for Pre-primary Institutions (Kwai Tsing)" program, staffed by nine social workers, will extend support to students, parents, and teachers from 16 pre-primary institutions in Kwai Tsing, commencing operations in August 2024.
In response to evolving demographic patterns and heightened demand for elderly care services, the Organization has undertaken a strategic organizational realignment. Effective 1 April 2024, the existing "Integrated Services for Elderly" will transition into two specialized divisions: the "Integrated Community Support Services for the Elderly" and the “Integrated Community Care Services for the Elderly." This restructuring facilitates a comprehensive service framework encompassing holistic wellness development, integrated physical-mental-cognitive healthcare, domiciliary support, and home-based caring and rehabilitation services. We envision seamless collaboration between these two divisions, delivering sustainable home and community-based elderly services while pioneering innovative program models with forward-thinking approaches to cultivate an age-friendly community that promotes intergenerational harmony.
With the generous support of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Organization launched the Jockey Club Carer Space Project in March 2023. The Project's flagship center, Jockey Club Carer Space (Kwai Fong), will inaugurate its services in April 2024. This comprehensive five-year initiative aims to strengthen carer support systems through volunteer-assisted programs and respite services, while simultaneously raising community awareness of carers' needs.
The Organization maintains active alignment with government initiatives for societal betterment, encompassing primary healthcare promotion, medical-social service integration, and community engagement enhancement. Additional focus areas include the Employees Retraining Board program review and evolution, and enhancement of support for ethnic minorities, including Chinese language acquisition assistance for non-Chinese speaking children from kindergarten to primary school.
The Organization persistently fosters a culture of mutual support within grassroots communities. Backed by the ZeShan Foundation and Si Yuan Foundations, the CommonLab Project has advanced into its second phase, delivering comprehensive support to residents facing housing instability through integrated services, including home repairs and relocation assistance. Beyond implementing these direct community support programs for subdivided unit residents, we actively engage in policy advocacy and provide strategic input for regulatory improvements to address the systemic challenges of substandard housing.
Over the years, the Organization has maintained a steadfast commitment to advancing primary healthcare services while fostering cross-sector collaboration among medical, social service, educational, and corporate entities. Through the generous support of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and ChinaChem Group, the Jockey Club Kwai Wah Health and Wellbeing Centre launched its operations in January 2021 amid the pandemic, establishing an integrated platform for community health promotion with comprehensive multidisciplinary healthcare services. Following the pandemic's subsidence, the Centre celebrated its official opening on 6 October 2023. Dr. Donald Kwok-Tung Li, S.B.S., J.P., Chairman of both the Elderly Commission and the Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui Welfare Council's Board of Directors and Executive Committee, presided over the ceremony, with the Most Revd Andrew Chan Au-ming offering his blessing. This landmark occasion drew distinguished attendees, including representatives from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and ChinaChem Group, Tsuen Wan and Kwai Tsing District Council members, academic institution delegates, healthcare partners, volunteers, and service beneficiaries.
Despite economic challenges and funding constraints, the Organization maintains service excellence through staff dedication and stakeholder collaboration. The continued support from governmental departments, charitable foundations, corporate partners, academic institutions, healthcare professionals, NGOs in the social service sector, and community stakeholders has been instrumental in advancing our mission of fostering an inclusive society.
The Organization remains committed to its foundational mission and values, strengthening stakeholder relationships to realize our vision of a compassionate community.