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K. Wah News & Feature Stories
Fight the epidemic to fuel positive energy for all
Sponsored by KWIH, the medical mask production cleanroom of Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (“TWGHs”) has commenced operation recently. Ginny Man, Chairman of TWGHs (left) introduces the progress of setting up the cleanroom to Dr Lui Che-woo, Chairman of KWIH (right) and presents him a box of ASTM Level 3 medical masks as souvenir.
In tandem with its principle of “giving back to the society”, K. Wah Group has been supporting the anti-epidemic measures. As of now, the Group has devoted over HK$200 million in cash or in kind in the Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.
KWIH supports TWGHs in setting up mask production cleanroom
KWIH donated HK$3.7 million through the “KWIH Anti-Epidemic Fund” to provide funding for the set up of a medical mask production cleanroom by Tung Wah Group of Hospitals (“TWGHs”). Recently, TWGHs has successfully obtained ASTM Level 1, 2 and 3 certification and the cleanroom officially commences operation. The Group hopes that this project will help to meet the demand for masks at non-profit organisations and provide job training for people with disabilities.
As an organisation providing medical care, education and social services, medical masks are essential for supporting the daily operation of TWGHs. However, the massive demand for masks after COVID-19 means that the procurement of masks has become quite a burden for non-profit organisations. The Group has therefore decided to support TWGHs to set up a mask production cleanroom. In addition to supplying masks to service units of TWGHs, it supplies masks to other non-profit organisations. The Group hopes to alleviate the financial and manpower burden on the social welfare sector so that the latter could centralise their resources to serve the underprivileged.
The project also provides job training opportunities for persons with disabilities. Mask production has become an emerging business because of COVID-19. The job training prepares them for employment and help them integrate into the community. Furthermore, it also offers part-time positions to home makers and retirees.
TWGHs converted part of the workshop area within an integrated vocational rehabilitation centre in Aberdeen into a cleanroom with ISO14644-1 Class 8 certification.
Support national epidemic prevention
(Left to right) Li Guang, General Manager of the Bank of China Macau Branch, Lei Wai Nong, Secretary for Economy and Finance of Macao SAR Government and Francis Lui, Vice Chairman of GEG attend the Social Bonds subscription ceremony.
Since the beginning of this year, frontline healthcare workers in various parts of Mainland China have been steadfast in saving lives. Under the coordination of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macau SAR, GEG donated MOP20 million to Hubei Province in order to assist its relief efforts; MOP5 million to support the prevention initiatives in the Macau community; and one million masks to the Macau SAR Government, Zhuhai City Government, and Hengqin New Area Government in February. In April, GEG announced an additional donation of MOP75 million to Mainland China to provide care for healthcare workers, help with public health promotion and support the medical and scientific research related to the epidemic.
Committed to support Macau’s development of economic diversification, GEG considers local SMEs as its key partner and support and nurture their development. To provide assistance to SMEs in Macau affected by the epidemic, GEG has subscribed for HK$100 million of the SMEs themed COVID-19 Impact Alleviation Social Bonds issued by Bank of China (Macau Branch), aiming to drive social recovery by alleviating the operational and financial burden of SMEs through reducing the financing costs of Macau SMEs. This is the first certified Social Bond issued by a Chinese issuer.
KWCM also made donation in favour of the Construction Industry Caring Campaign and volunteered at the preventive kits preparation activities organised by the Construction Industry Council of Hong Kong to provide financial and other support for registered workers affected by the epidemic.
Support those in need with non-profit organisations
Natural disinfectants used in the solitary elderly household sanitisation services are safe and harmless to human, homes and the environment
KWIH worked with World Green Organisation to arrange free professional sanitisation services for more than 120 solitary elderly households in Wong Tai Sin, Tsuen Wan and So Uk Estate. The sanitisation services offered antibacterial, antivirus, and pest repellent effects that could last for 30 days. Since the solitary elderly may experience difficulties in cleaning their homes by themselves, it is hoped that the services can alleviate their plight.
The KWIH voluntary team stayed with the elderly during the sanitisation service to explain the process, giving out preventive kits and sharing hygiene tips with them. The preventive kits include medical masks, hand sanitisers and alcohol wipes, etc. Most of these items were donated by KWIH staff. Handmade hand sanitisers were even made by the voluntary team under profession guidance, which are free of excessive flavouring agents or chemical substances while meeting World Health Organization standards to alleviate harm of chemical agents to individuals and the environment. As the solitary elderly had been constrained to their homes because of the social distancing, volunteer visits and gifts brought much needed consolation and encouragement.
In Macau, GEG also arranged professional air sanitisation and cleaning at various non-profit organisations to provide a safe and healthy environment for the service users.
GEG rolled out a subsidy scheme for local schools and nursery service users, and carried out sanitation training and donated prevention supplies to local schools and non-profit organizations to assist in maintaining a safe and hygienic environment. Furthermore, GEG teamed up with a local non-profit organization to co-launch a home exercise equipment subsidy scheme for children, especially those with special education needs, to exercise at home amid the epidemic.
Under the guidance of a professional fitness trainer, GEG Volunteers film a set of tutorials in collaboration with Sheng Kung Hui Macau Social Services Coordination Office to demonstrate proper use of the equipment in a bid to spread positivity through sports.
Caring for the K. Wah family
K. Wah Group strives to support the government and the community, also to foster a safe and healthy environment for our customers and staff, so that we can stand united in the challenging times.
KWIH understands that the businesses of its tenants have been affected by the epidemic, hence, have provided short-term rent concessions to some tenants to alleviate their operational and financial pressure. Meanwhile, to assure a safe and healthy environment for guests, disinfections are carried out regularly at all hotels and properties of the Group in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau. Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide (Oxivir®) has been used for hospital-grade disinfection in all GEG hotel rooms.
KWIH has arranged lunch delivery services from SOHO east and J SENSES at discounted prices for staff who prefer to stay indoors. Meanwhile, the Group produced videos offering health tips on proper preventive measures for staff.
When anti-epidemic supplies were unstable, KWIH provided each employee with the preventive kits containing medical masks, hand sanitisers, nutritional supplements and disinfectant spray. KWCM and the Group’s InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong, Stanford Hotel, Stanford Hillview Hotel and Stanford Residences Victoria Harbour also gave out supplies to staff to encourage proper preventive measures.
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KWCM introduces “Walk for Reward” programme encouraging staff to walk more as a way to stay healthy. Staff who reached a designated amount of steps within half a month will be awarded.