Message from the Chairman

Speech by Mdm. HUANG Xiaojun
Chairman of the 76th Board of Directors (2025-2026)

The Chinese characters of Pok Oi not only symbolise the importance of people loving one another to attain social harmony, but also embodies the motto of Pok Oi Hospital – “We Love, We Care, We serve”. Over the years, with the unwavering support of benevolent donors from all walks of life, Pok Oi Hospital has been working hand in hand with the community for 106 years. Today, it operates 123 service units across Hong Kong, from Chinese and Western medical services, dental services, elderly services, youth, children, and family services, education, and transitional housing services. Each year, more than 1.9 million people benefit from these services.

I am profoundly humbled to assume office as Chairman this year, to continue upholding the mission and honouring the Pok Oi legacy. I look forward to working closely with my fellow Board of Directors, championing the spirit and attaining the goals of Pok Oi Hospital, while remaining committed to our core values and striving to meet the needs of society. We look forward to further expanding our services, increasing the number of service units to benefit an even wider community. Below are the major focuses and service development plans for the upcoming year set out by myself and our Board of Directors:

Mini Pok Oi: Expanding the Service Network

• Public-Private-Community Partnership to Create a new Community Living Room Project

In the advancement of social services, we understand it is difficult to maximise effectiveness by working alone, whereas garnering the power of a public-private-community partnership creates a synergistic effect. In line with the government’s targeted poverty alleviation policies, together with our strong background in social services, we aim to expand the “Mini Pok Oi” community service model, with the goal of creating a comfortable co-living space for sub-divided unit tenants in the Sham Shui Po district. As a result, we are actively applying to the government to operate a “Community Living Room,” and are honoured to have received sponsorship from China Merchants Group, who has agreed to provide the venue and offer unit renovations and essential large-scale equipment, enabling us to offer support to families, such as providing study and daily living facilities for school-age children. On-site social workers will be available to facilitate early interventions of family needs and to provide timely support.

This marks the first step in partnership between Pok Oi Hospital and China Merchants Group. We sincerely hope this builds a foundation for future success, with more community collaboration projects in the pipeline to support a broader community.

• Enhancing Transitional Housing Community Services for the Betterment of Grassroots Families

“Targeted poverty alleviation” includes support for housing needs. Based on our experience with “Pok Oi Kong Ha Wai Village” – the largest transitional housing project in Hong Kong, a closely connected “Mini Pok Oi” community was successfully created. This service model has also been applied to “Pok Oi Sing Ping Village” in Ta Kwu Ling, which began welcoming residents last year. The services building in the village is now operational, featuring a social enterprise convenience store, a community restaurant, activity rooms, and a multi-purpose outdoor plaza, etc.

Other Pok Oi Hospital services have also gradually been introduced to “Pok Oi Sing Ping Village.” Among them, the “Wai Yin Association Elderly Centre” has commenced services, supporting the physical, mental, and spiritual well-being of elderly residents in the North District and rural areas. It also helps them learn more about community resources and encourages them to enjoy a fulfilling community life. We hope that both transitional housing residents and neighbouring community members can benefit from Pok Oi Hospital’s professional and comprehensive services.

Following the recent completion of the recruitment process for “Pok Oi Sing Ping Village”, a family support programme funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust will also be launched in the second quarter of 2025 at “Pok Oi Kong Hai Wai Village.” This programme aims to enhance the capacities of the underprivileged families and improve their quality of life. It includes the provision of career coaching and training, employment enhancements programmes, introduction of savings scheme, and a variety of community activities to empower family and community ties, expand social networks, and enhance overall happiness and the well-being of families.

• Application for Light Public Housing

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) has been actively constructing “Light Public Housing” to quickly fill the void in public housing supply. Leveraging our experience in transitional housing and comprehensive social services, Pok Oi Hospital is actively submitting applications for Light Public Housing projects, with hopes that the “Mini Pok Oi” model can continue to enhance the quality of life for residents in different communities.

• Partnering with Philanthropists to Promote Compassion Enabling the Elderly to Enjoy a Happy Retirement

Pok Oi strongly believes in the importance of a joyful retirement, enabling seniors to embrace a fulfilling retirement life. The “Pok Oi Hospital Tuen Mun Lam Tei Nursing and Residential Care Home Project” will be the largest elderly care facility in Hong Kong and is expected to commence operations in March 2027. To ensure the sustainable development of this project, Pok Oi Hospital is delighted to receive support from the Lee Shau Kee Foundation and the Henderson Land Group. Currently, preparations are underway for the “Lam Tei Project Charitable Foundation”, which is expected to be officially established and named by mid 2025, to uphold the legacy of philanthropy and spread compassion in the community.

Addressing Needs Expanding Medical Service Locations

• Increasing Service Coverage to Provide Chinese Medicine, Dental, and Primary Healthcare Services

Addressing the needs of our society is at the core of Pok Oi Hospital’s mission, and the provision of medical services have always been a major undertaking. With the increasing demand for Chinese Medicine and the age of service users becoming increasingly younger, integrated treatment collaboration between Chinese and Western medicine has been experiencing sustainable growth in recent years. Owing to the generous donation from Dr. CHAN Shou Ming, MH, a Permanent Adviser of Pok Oi Hospital, two Community Chinese Medicine Clinics named in his honour have commenced operations in Sha Tin, with the number of Chinese Medicine service units reaching a total of 50, covering over 200 service locations. In the coming year, Pok Oi Hospital will continue to expand service locations and strengthen our mobile clinics. Special thanks to the Lamborghini Owners’ Club for donating a Chinese Medicine mobile clinic and an outreach service vehicle, as well as to the Yuen Yuen Institute for their generous donation of another Chinese Medicine mobile clinic. These resources will enhance community services in the Eastern and Western New Territories, particularly benefiting residents in public housing estates or remote rural areas, including the elderly and mobility-impaired patients.

Pok Oi Hospital has been providing dental services since 2010 and currently operates three dental clinics and two outreach teams. Given the growing demand for social services in newly constructed communities, we plan to expand our dental service network, such as the establishment of a new dental clinic in a newly built residential estate on Pak Wo Road, Fanling. Additionally, with funding from The Hong Kong Jockey Club, the “Jockey Club Pok Oi Hospital Primary Healthcare Dental Clinic” will be launched in Yuen Long Town in the second or third quarter of 2025. In addition, the Lamborghini Owners’ Club has donated a dental outreach vehicle to enhance service mobility and accessibility.

To alleviate the pressure on public hospitals, Pok Oi Hospital is actively supporting community health initiatives through the “Yuen Long District Health Centre” and the “PHARM+ Pok Oi Hospital Community Pharmacy”. These efforts aim to promote community well-being and healthy lifestyle initiatives, encourage better individual health management, support chronic disease management, and enhance comprehensive and sustainable primary healthcare services. Pok Oi Hospital hopes to continue to explore the feasibility of increasing service locations, to provide more convenient and affordable primary healthcare for the public.

• Contributing Expertise to the Northern Metropolis Development

In the 2024 Policy Address, the Chief Executive highlighted the “Northern Metropolis” as a liveable, business-friendly, and tourism-friendly metropolitan area, with innovation and technology industries serving as its economic engine, interlocking development with social services. As an organisation deeply rooted in Yuen Long and an integral part of the Northern Metropolis, Pok Oi Hospital has proactively taken the lead in bringing various services into the new towns of Northern New Territories, ensuring local residents receive services catered to meet their needs. In addition to the ongoing expansion of Chinese Medicine and dental services, Pok Oi Hospital is also planning new initiatives, including education and other medical services. We hope that the “Mini Pok Oi” community model will continue to grow and give back to the society.

Embracing Dreams Supporting the Next Generation in Building a Positive Life

• Caring for Youth Mental Health Supporting Holistic Student Development

The mental wellbeing of students has become a growing concern in the society. Having reviewed and consolidated findings of several studies, Pok Oi Hospital Education Services Department has connected with community stakeholders and cross-sector experts, to focus on providing preventive-based intervention and support measures for students from Kwun Tong District. These initiatives will include mental health first-aid training, psychological resilience programmes, free Chinese Medicine consultations, health assessments, counselling services, and community mental health awareness days. The project also focuses on enhancing the relationships and connections between students and parents, schools, the elderly, visually impaired individuals, and the wider community, thereby enhancing their social safety net, while promoting intergenerational and community inclusion.

Pok Oi Hospital’s education services emphasize holistic student development, fostering integrity and positive values. To help students better manifest the “Pok Oi Spirit,” diverse activities will be organised by Education Services Department to enrich experiences. In 2024, the first-ever “Outstanding Secondary School Students Summer Internship Program” was launched, where outstanding students, nominated by affiliated school principals, were given an opportunity to intern at Pok Oi Hospital service units. This initiative allowed students to gain practical work experience while fostering a sense of belonging to Pok Oi Hospital’s services.

Additionally, events held in the past such as the “Joint School Charity Walk” and the “Career Planning Seminar – Stepping into the Future” have been well received. Moving forward, Pok Oi Hospital will continue launching programmes that support student development, enhance national identity recognition, promote cultural heritage, sustainable STEAM education, while nurturing the next generation of innovation and technology talents.

• Youth Dreams Series Connecting the Community to Help Youths Realise Their Potential

Schools, families, and communities all play a crucial role in incubating healthy personal growth for young people. Pok Oi Hospital remains committed to fostering youth development and cultivating a positive outlook on life, encouraging youths to discover careers and aspirations aligned with their interests and strengths.

To broaden the horizons of youths, Pok Oi Hospital will introduce the “Youth Dreams: Sing Boldly, Try Boldly, Create Boldly” series. Whether youths aspire to pursue a career in performing arts, sports, creative entrepreneurship, or other new ventures, Pok Oi Hospital will leverage its network to connect them with industry stakeholders and resources. The upcoming year will mark the 10th anniversary of the “Pok Oi Youth Singing Contest,” a platform Pok Oi Hospital has gladly built for youths in pursuit of their musical dreams. In alignment with the government’s recent promotion of “urban sports,” Pok Oi Hospital will enhance sports training programmes to help youths discover the joy of exercising, develop strong and healthy bodies, and build confidence. Moving forward, we also hope to continue utilising Pok Oi Hospital’s specialty service facility – the “Pok Oi Hospital Yuen Long Merchants Association Extreme Sports Park”, to host training sessions and competitions, further nurturing young athletic talent and sustain the promotion of “Chic Sports, Healthy Living.”

• Ongoing Reinforcements of the Community Support Network

Pok Oi Hospital is committed in building community networks in different districts to reinforce early intervention and provide timely assistance. We continue to receive funding from the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund under the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau to implement initiatives such as “You & Me: Back Up Tsing Yi Island”, which aims to enhance the community’s awareness towards the needs of dementia patients and their families through fostering a community support network. In Tuen Mun, the “Butterfly Age-friendly Network II ” programme has established a collaborative effort involving social, welfare, medical, educational, and business sectors, along with a resident support network, to effectively provide assistance to dementia patients and their caregivers in the community. In the coming year, Pok Oi Hospital will continue to seek out new resources to further develop projects that support families and caregivers in need.

Inspiring Benevolence Injecting New Elements into Charitable Fundraising

Following the government announcement on the reduction of funding allocations, Pok Oi Hospital’s services must actively fight for community resources and establish sustainable fundraising strategies. Various major fundraising events are in progress, including Pok Oi Cycle for Millions, Pok Oi Charity Run, the well-known Pok Oi Charity Show, Pok Oi Martial Arts Performance, Charity Golf Day, Pok Oi Month, Pok Oi Neighbours Donation, Pok Oi Cup, and Pok Oi Charity Ball. All these key events aim to raise funds to benefit those in need.

The success of these charity fundraising activities is nonetheless subject to the support and sponsorship from generous donors and corporations, working together to raise public awareness and increase participation. In the coming year, with the continued collaboration with benefactors and corporations, Pok Oi Hospital intends to incorporate new elements and models into future fundraising activities, leveraging multimedia channels to encourage city-wide participation and heighten engagement in charitable events.

Conclusion

Promoting charitable work with limited resources is undoubtedly a challenge, while advancing innovative public welfare projects also requires nothing less than the support of all sectors. On behalf of the Board of Directors 2025-2026, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to Chairman CHAU Chun Tat, Danny, whose leadership has enabled Pok Oi Hospital to achieve new milestones and created new Pok Oi tales.

My fellow Board of Directors and I will continue to dedicate ourselves to upholding the spirit of Pok Oi, and we sincerely hope for your continued support and guidance. With the generosity of our benefactors, we will sustainably maximise our resources, launch timely new initiatives, expand service networks, and continuously enhance service quality. We promise to provide comprehensive support to those in need and make even greater contributions to building a caring and compassionate Hong Kong.

Finally, I sincerely wish everyone bountiful blessings and good health!

Mdm. HUANG Xiaojun
Chairman of the 76th Board of Directors (2025-2026)