Since its establishment in 2002, the Customs and Excise Volunteer Team (the Volunteer Team) has been the platform that facilitates both serving and retired C&ED members to devote themselves to volunteering in their spare time. Over the years, the Volunteer Team has proactively participated in and organised various types of volunteer activities to provide care and assistance for the elderly, teenagers, children and people in need. During the outbreak of COVID-19, the Volunteer Team also played an active role in diversified anti-epidemic volunteer services.

At the initial stage of the epidemic outbreak, there was a shortage of epidemic prevention supplies. The Volunteer Team, concerned very much about the needy in society at that time, urgently sourced anti-epidemic supplies such as masks and rapid testing kits for them. They then distributed these supplies in different districts to key beneficiaries including elderly homes and nursing centres, youth centres, the unemployed and ethnic minority groups. Moreover, the Volunteer Team formed a "Caring Team" to deliver daily necessities and anti-epidemic supplies to colleagues who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 and required to be home quarantined. A “Phone Support Team” was also formed to send greetings to such colleagues via telephone calls and help take care of their well-being, especially their emotional and mental health needs.

In the fight against the fifth wave of the epidemic, the Volunteer Team was again at the forefront, participating in the COVID-19 vaccination programme for residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs). To date, the team has visited over 60 RCHEs and assisted over 2,800 elderly residents in receiving their first to third dose of vaccinations. With this enhanced community protection, the goal of “reducing infection, reducing severe illness and reducing deaths” was achieved.

Among the volunteers who joined the vaccination programme, Mr Tseung Wai-leung, Senior Customs Inspector said, “During the severe moment when the virus was widespread across the territory early in 2022, the infection or fatal cases from RCHEs escalated rapidly. So I was determined to join the vaccination programme as I hoped to provide protection for the elderly. Also, I have been happy to participate in different types of volunteer activities organised by the Volunteer Team in the past two years under the epidemic. Being a member of the Volunteer Team is my passion and helping others who are in need makes me happy.”

During the epidemic, whenever there was an urgent need for volunteers, colleagues would not hesitate to show their support and devotedly offer assistance. Everyone made their best efforts to reach out and help others without fear, in the midst of the epidemic. The volunteer team continually cooperated with the Suicide Prevention Services throughout the epidemic. The volunteers took all precautionary actions and followed prudent safety measures before visiting the elderly who lived alone. Although they could only leave anti-epidemic and other necessary supplies outside residents’ doors, such opportunities of chatting for a few minutes certainly helped ease worries of the elderly and let them feel the warmth and support of the volunteers. By showing love and care to the elderly, we all could help tide them over the challenging time together.

In 2022, the Volunteer Team was honoured to receive the “Hong Kong Volunteer Award (Outstanding Group)” at the Hong Kong Volunteer Award Presentation Ceremony 2022, which was jointly organised by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Agency for Volunteer Service. The team was nominated by the Suicide Prevention Services. The volunteer team will continue to actively promote and participate in various volunteer services, spreading positive energy across society, serving the community together, and displaying the spirit of love and care to everyone.