During her years working in the civil service, Ms Hui was posted to various departments, such as the then Medical and Health Services Department, the Urban Services Department, the Finance Bureau, as well as the Housing Department. Ms Hui recalled that the most challenging project when working in the civil service was serving as the Project Manager of the new Government Financial Management Information System (GFMIS) led by the Treasury. She said, “In 2006 to 2007, I was responsible for the coordination of the development and implementation of the system. We need to implement the core functions of the new financial system to replace the old one across all government bureaux and departments within two years.”

It was definitely not an easy task for Ms Hui and she recalled the slogan always cited to encourage the project team “Together we work hand in hand! Sure we will succeed in the end!” She was very thankful to the then Director of Accounting Services, her seniors and colleagues for their support. She said, “The main challenge was the tight schedule and the involvement of 5,400 users among all bureaux and departments in the project; and the change management was particularly complicated and had to be handled meticulously. At that time, quite a number of Treasury Accountant grade colleagues, with rich experience of the Government’s financial operations, retired through the Voluntary Retirement Scheme. I was very fortunate that a few of them accepted my sincere invitation and agreed to join the Change Management Team as part-time staff, which assisted bureaux and departments in the rollout of the new system and training of their accounting staff. The GFMIS project was successfully implemented and I was so thankful for their support.”

In 2009, Ms Hui was posted to the Social Welfare Department as Assistant Director (Finance), where she spent her final four years of service until her retirement in 2013.

Before Ms Hui retired, she was once invited by a Treasury colleague to participate in the charity event “Rehabilitation Power Day” organised by the Hong Kong Rehabilitation Power (HKRP) at Victoria Park, where she witnessed many volunteers and disabled persons in wheelchairs taking part in activities, such as singing and playing games. She recounted, “It was very touching. I immediately got in mind that I should do something for this caring organisation. I therefore told my colleague that I would like to serve this organisation after my retirement and this colleague was the founder of HKRP.”

Eventually after retirement, Ms Hui joined HKRP in 2014 as the Honorary Treasurer. She recalled, “After joining the organisation, I realised that it was a small non-governmental organisation (NGO) with limited resources and no expertise in accounting, and its accounting work was outsourced. With the assistance from a volunteer, I managed to set up an in-house accounting system for the organisation and reduce its operation cost for outsourcing. I also enhanced their accounting and internal control system. ”

Apart from being the Honorary Treasurer of HKRP, Ms Hui is also the Honorary Financial Advisor of Baby Friendly Initiative Hong Kong Association. She was very glad that she could contribute to the community by serving charitable organisations with her expertise in accounting and finance after retirement. By chance, Ms Hui met a few disabled members in HKRP who also played the Chinese musical instrument “erhu” (二胡) as she did and they set up a musical team to play erhu and gave performances at charity events. At that time, Ms Hui often had the vision of promoting Chinese music to disabled persons so as to brighten up their lives and hoped that one day she could set up a Chinese orchestra to integrate disabled and abled persons.

Later on, Ms Hui was introduced to Mr Ko Tit-kwan, a great Chinese musical master and expert in Chinese instruments. Ms Hui shared, “It was amazing! Mr Ko fully supported my vision and was willing to give up some of his jobs and dedicate his time to teach the members of HKRP Chinese music, as well as assist me in setting up a Chinese orchestra.”

Ms Hui (second row, first left) and the HKRP Chinese Orchestra performed in the TV programme “Cultural Square”.

First performance of Ms Hui (first right) and the HKRP Chinese Orchestra at the Concert Hall of Hong Kong City Hall.

In 2017, with the financial assistance from the Rotary Club, her friends and other funding sources, Ms Hui fulfilled her dream by setting up a Chinese orchestra called the Hong Kong Rehabilitation Power Chinese Orchestra (the Chinese Orchestra). In these two years since its establishment, the orchestra had given performances in a number of charity and community functions, and had won awards in competitions. Two charity concerts had been successfully held at the Hong Kong City Hall (the City Hall) in 2018 and 2019. As the head of the orchestra, Ms Hui has to handle various matters about the orchestra. Such as in organising the charity concerts, she has taken active role in venue reservation, liaison with the City Hall about ticketing arrangement and stage setting, as well as arranging guests, printing of promotional materials, publicity, donation arrangement, etc. Ms Hui said, “As I have never done these kinds of work before, I was quite nervous and have encountered a number of difficulties. But I believe I can learn by experience, and things will get better and better. There are a lot to learn after retirement. ”

Ms Hui (third right) enjoys playing ping pong with her friends after retirement.

Besides, Ms Hui has also set up a charitable, cultural and recreational club registered under the Societies Ordinance. The club has over 100 members, who are mostly pensioners from the Treasury and friends who share common interests. Ms Hui explained, “I believe every one of us need to have a healthy and happy life. The club organises activities covering a wide range of interests such as arts, music, cultural and sport, which can foster the relationship and mutual support among members. We have regular activities for members, for example, fitness classes, line dancing, ping pong practices, cultural sharing sessions, singing classes, cooking classes and trips.”

Ms Hui added, “When I retired, I did not actually have a plan but thought it would come together as I went along. I wish to serve the community and help people, especially the disabled. As I have been suffering from poliomyelitis since childhood, I understand the difficulties of people with disabilities. Now I have the opportunity to serve HKRP and set up the Chinese Orchestra to promote music to disabled persons. I can also enjoy music with friends and integrate the disabled and abled through music. These are all meaningful and fulfilling to me.”

Ms Hui enjoyed the change in her life from an accountant to a “music person” as she can spend more time enjoying and playing music. Ms Hui shared, “I could not spare any time to learn music while working full time. I am glad that I can now spend a lot of time playing music such as attending music classes, participating in rehearsals and performances. Apart from playing erhu, I am also learning Chinese opera singing, and have just started learning another Chinese musical instrument, Yangqin（揚琴）, which I love very much. Besides, I play ping pong every week to stay healthy.”

Ms Hui concluded with some advice for those civil servants who are planning to retire, “Go travelling, become volunteers or play music. Do whatever you want, just don’t stay idle at home. Most importantly, follow your own interests, and live a healthy and happy retirement life.”