Over the years, OKVGL has recruited over 5,500 members (including serving and retired staff members and their families) and established 58 sub-teams to help serve people in need all over Hong Kong. OKVGL members participated in filter mask production at Lo Wu Correctional Institution in early 2020, which helped alleviate the daunting shortage of masks during the epidemic. OKVGL members even took a heartwarming step by going door to door to help distribute anti-epidemic supplies to needy individuals and families across the territory.

As the epidemic gradually leveled off, OKVGL kick-started a series of volunteer events across the community. Apart from distributing anti-epidemic supplies, OKVGL members also offered sports training and life education to youngsters and children with special needs, provided assistance to charity groups in meal box preparation and distribution, and rendered administrative support for venue management of activities organised by other volunteer groups. To set an example for staff members, the directorates and senior management of CSD personally participated in such volunteer events, including home visits under “ ‘鄉‧港連心計劃’ 2022 — 關愛送暖探訪” , “Celebrations for All project in Southern District” and a calligraphy activity under Mid-Autumn Festival (Tsuen Wan District) cum World Peace Calligraphy Day. From March to October 2022, OKVGL sub-teams took part in over 70 volunteer events, with nearly 2,000 participants, showing the dedication and hard work of correctional officers.

Ms Chung Lai-fong, Officer, an active member of OKVGL, has been enthusiastically participating in various volunteer activities since the establishment of the group. She was awarded the Gold Award for Volunteer Service (Individual) by the Social Welfare Department and was nominated by CSD as a “Caring Ambassador” under the “Caring Organisation” category in recognition of her contribution to corporate community involvement programmes. Ms Chung said, “As civil servants, we absolutely shouldn’t adopt the ‘not in my backyard’ mentality. Rather, we should make the best use of our abilities to serve and care for those in need in society. In fact, the sense of satisfaction brought to me by volunteer work is no less than that by my official duties. Therefore, I always encourage my family, friends and colleagues to actively take part in volunteer service. With concerted efforts, Hong Kong can be recharged with positivity.”

OKVGL’s selfless dedication to the community over more than a decade is a testimony to the devoted spirit of an excellent civil service, which not only helps inject vitality into Hong Kong, but also fosters a loving and caring culture in collaboration with the community.