Companies wanting to make a contribution to society nowadays do not just write a cheque: they want their staff to have a chance to get involved in community services.
'In the past 10 years, Community Chest has linked our events with subvented services to allow our donors a better understanding of our involvement in social welfare services,' said Margaret Leung Ko May-yee, executive committee chairman of Community Chest and chief executive of Hang Seng Bank.
She said there was an increasing trend for corporate donors to designate part of their donations to specific services, such as education-related projects, or services for the mentally ill.
Hang Seng Bank, for example, had encouraged staff to get involved in volunteer work and to have direct contact with those less fortunate, Leung said.
Every Mid-Autumn Festival, the bank invites 200 underprivileged older people aged from 70 to 90 to a banquet at the Hang Seng Bank penthouse, where staff serve the food.
The bank also holds an annual 'ping pong' event to allow underprivileged children to play table tennis with professional players at the penthouse. Staff also serve at this event.