HSBC’s charity arm continues decades of work lending helping hand to Hong Kong community
The Hongkong Bank Foundation, founded in 1981, aims to care for the elderly, empower young people and cultivate a sustainable future
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HSBC is committed to the welfare of Hong Kong and always ready to support those in need
The year’s end is often a time when people look back and take stock of their past achievements and the lessons they have learned. For some, it may mean recalling memories of discovering new talents and dreams, or taking pride in achieving something great for yourself or others. Often, such successes will have been achieved thanks to a helping hand.
Since its founding in 1865, HSBC has been committed to enhancing the social well-being of disadvantaged communities in the city it calls home. The establishment of The Hongkong Bank Foundation in 1981 reflected the bank’s deep commitment to the welfare of the city.
Philanthropic efforts have people at their core
The work of the foundation is focused on three core areas – elderly care, youth development and sustainability – showing the bank’s recognition of the progress the city has made and its vision for supporting both the near and long-term future of its needy community.
Over nearly four and a half decades, HSBC has supported more than 10,000 projects through its foundation, while distributing more than HK$2.6 billion (US$334 million) in grants to address community needs.
However, the bank’s philanthropic efforts go beyond mere financial support. At the heart of the foundation’s mission is a people-centric approach. Since 1993, the HSBC Volunteers Scheme – formerly known as the Wayfoong Volunteers Scheme – has contributed more than one million hours to help disadvantaged communities, mentor young people and respond to environmental issues.
At this year’s Hong Kong Volunteer Award ceremony, the bank received the Outstanding Corporate Award – Merit award among businesses with 100 or more full-time employees. The award is a recognition scheme co-organised by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Agency for Volunteer Service.
For two years in a row, HSBC has also been recognised as one of the city’s top 10 corporations with the highest number of volunteer hours among businesses with 1,000 or more staff.
This year, HSBC volunteers contributed close to 50,000 hours to a wide range of projects that inspire, educate and empower people from different walks of life.
Mentors empower young talent to thrive
HSBC plays a strategic role in the government-led Strive and Rise Programme, which mentors Secondary One to Four students from low-income families.
By being a strategic partner of the programme for two years in a row since 2023, over 500 HSBC staff have volunteered to be mentors, helping young people broaden their horizons and realise their full potential through dedicated mentorship and diverse experiences.
Luanne Lim, Hong Kong’s CEO at HSBC, is an advocate for the programme, which reflects that the bank’s philanthropic culture starts from the leadership level. Lim was awarded the Medal of Honour by the Hong Kong government this year in recognition of her dedicated and valuable community service, particularly in youth development and the support of underprivileged students.
While its mission to empower young people continues, the foundation is forging new partnerships, including the latest HSBC GameChanger initiative, aimed at inspiring young people with autism and Down’s syndrome to discover their true callings and potential career paths.
The initiative – driven by HSBC volunteers and supported by 11 NGOs and business partners – offers workshops and job-tasting experiences in different sectors, empowering youths with special educational needs to pursue their dreams.
Special support given to elderly
Recognising the challenges faced by senior citizens, HSBC cares for those who have spent their lives building Hong Kong into the success story it is.
The Hongkong Bank Foundation, which aims to promote financial education for all, has supported last month’s start of the Wealth Intelligence for Smart Elders (WISE) Course under the Elder Academy Scheme.
The Labour and Welfare Bureau and the Elderly Commission launched the scheme in 2007 to enable retirees aged about 60 to learn in a school setting.
Elderly students who participate in the new course will be able to learn about topics such as financial technology and how to protect themselves against scams, which shows the bank’s determination to help senior citizens navigate the rapidly changing world.
The bank also sees the need for more accessible taxi services for the elderly. It is sponsoring Diamond Cab Foundation, which will provide 1,500 charity rides for eligible senior citizens with mobility needs to get to non-urgent medical appointments in the coming year.
Diamond Cab taxis are designed with mechanical or manual ramps, which make it easier for wheelchair users to get on board. Since 2020, Diamond Cab Foundation has been offering free taxi rides to senior citizens when they go to and from their medical check-ups.
With limited organisations in Hong Kong providing free cross-district, barrier-free taxi services, Diamond Cab charity rides can fill a gap in services and meet a particular need among those elderly people living in remote places.
Environmental protection vital for city’s future
HSBC is committed to supporting initiatives that promote Hong Kong’s transition to net zero – which ensures a balance between the production of greenhouse gas emissions and the removal of greenhouse emissions from the atmosphere. This involves it working together with organisations with expertise in different sustainable and eco-friendly solutions.
Since 1999, the foundation has built a strong partnership with WWF-Hong Kong, the city’s independent branch of the wildlife conservation organisation, and contributed to the conservation of Mai Po Nature Reserve’s wetlands, supported biodiversity and brought communities together to effect positive change.
As part of a three-year Wetland Incubator project, which began in 2021, WWF-Hong Kong has been collaborating with Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden to monitor the population of Eurasian otters, which are nocturnal mammals, through the use of camera traps and the collection and DNA analysis of their faeces. The number of these otters living in Hong Kong was believed to be declining, with only seven recorded in northwest New Territories in a study conducted between 2018 and 2019.
A team of HSBC volunteers has helped identify otters in footage taken by the camera traps and has contributed more than 200 hours to the overall otter conservation programme.
These philanthropic efforts, covering a wide range of topics and beneficiaries, solidify the bank’s commitment to give back to the community and its determination to continue its journey alongside Hong Kong.