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SoCO - Society for Community Organisation

SoCO - Society for Community Organisation
Society for Community Organisation (SoCO) is a non-governmental and human rights advocacy group in Hong Kong. The group was founded in 1972 by church members. It is also financially supported by donations from various churches, overseas funding, the Community Chest and individuals. The group has organised community social actions and civic education programs in order to encourage the political participation of the population.
Yang Qi (right) and 15-year-old violinist Chau Tsz-tsun will perform at a charity concert in October. Photo: Handout
Hong Kong society

This boy, 13, learned to play piano in subdivided flat. Now he’s going on stage

Yang Qi will perform at a Cultural Centre concert along with about 800 others to raise funds for charity.

Hong Kong society

Why has Hong Kong women’s life expectancy hit record high? What about the men?

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Hong Kong society

Editorial | Hong Kong must ensure its elderly age with dignity and care

Hong Kong police

‘Hong Kong woman accused of killing mother and brother acted under mental stress’

Police say murder suspect recently shared suicidal thoughts and has mental illness history; welfare groups urge expansion of carer services.

A 52-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murdering her mother and younger brother in a flat in Cheung Sha Wan. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong economy

Labour chief defends worker import scheme despite Hongkongers’ job loss claims

Chris Sun rejects calls to suspend importation of workers despite preliminary evidence of local staff being displaced.

Hong Kong housing

Hong Kong children in cramped flats have poorer mental health: survey

Feelings of depression, anxiety and stress worse for those who say they lack play and study areas at home, while academic performance also affected.

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Hong Kong housing

Temperatures in Hong Kong’s subpar housing reach as high as 40 degrees: survey

Concern group SoCO calls for subdivided housing tenants to receive subsidies for products such as air conditioners and fans.

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The study was one of two surveys published by SoCO on Sunday. Photo: Dickson Lee
Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Appendicitis surgery blunder puts spotlight on Hong Kong public hospital safety

Patients’ rights advocate Alex Lam says such cases should also be proactively escalated to professional watchdogs for investigation.

Hong Kong economy

What experts say Hong Kong gets right and wrong in plan to tap ‘silver economy’

Blueprint a ‘good start’ but government can adopt more measures, such as flexible retirement age and insurance co-payment for employers hiring older workers.

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Hong Kong society

Hundreds of poor Hongkongers face cutbacks in essentials when handout ends: poll

Seventy per cent may have to go without essentials, as families worry about impact on children’s education and extracurricular activities.

The handout of HK$1,300 to HK$3,900 a month to families waiting for public rental flats for more than three years ends on June 30. Photo: Eugene Lee
Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Editorial | Hong Kong’s private hospitals must also be transparent

As is also the case in the public sector, patients, health professionals and authorities must be fully informed when problems arise.

Exterior view of privately run St Teresa’s Hospital in Kowloon City. Photo: Edward Wong
Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Call to toughen rules for reporting incidents at private hospitals in Hong Kong

Concerns arise after breakdown of air conditioning at St Teresa’s Hospital created condensation in operating theatres but incident from last July only now revealed.

Hong Kong society

Discovery of skeleton in flat reveals plight of Hong Kong’s ‘hidden elderly’

Experts warn that older residents who live alone and have no family care need more timely support.

Hong Kong housing

Hong Kong groups, subdivided-flat tenants seek changes to proposed regulations

Public consultation on proposed regulatory system for subdivided flats ended on Monday.

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Sy Kiheo, his wife and son are sharing a 70 sq ft subdivided flat. Photo: May Tse
Hong Kong housing

60% of Hongkongers in subdivided flats say proposed minimum too small: poll

Society for Community Organisation says government should factor in household size in effort to eradicate substandard homes.

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Hong Kong has 110,000 subdivided flats and is now seeking to weed out low-quality homes by only allowing those meeting certain criteria to remain on the market as “basic housing units”. Photo: Elson Li
Hong Kong housing

16-year wait for Hong Kong public housing? Singles under 60 slam policies

‘Is being single a sin,’ asks one resident, who is among those saying they are being left behind by focus on families and elderly.

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Hong Kong housing

93% of children in Hong Kong subdivided flats have spinal issues: survey

Children not having proper desks to do homework is the main reason for problems, Society for Community Organisation says.

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Hong Kong housing

Why are some Hong Kong subdivided housing tenants turning down temporary flats?

Society for Community Organisation, subdivided housing tenants urge authorities to offer alternative flats that fit needs of relocated residents.

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Wong Chi-kong has turned down an offer of temporary government housing because the estate is too remote from the rest of the city. Photo: Elson Li
Hong Kong society

Flushing food waste down the toilet? Hong Kong’s poor predict rubbish fee chaos

Society for Community Organisation poll finds quarter say they may flush food waste down toilet and more than half say will avoid taking out trash every day.

Hong Kong society

Call to ease A&E ward wait time, improve carer support for Hong Kong elderly

Elderly residents attending event organised by Society for Community Organisation recount difficulties they face in trying to book emergency medical services.

Hong Kong society

Early Christmas for children in need, but Hong Kong’s SoCO says it’s struggling

Youngsters get gifts from Society for Community Organisation, which has handed out more than 40,000 Christmas presents over past 20 years.

Children queue up for Christmas presents from SoCO’s “Santas” at the NGO’s annual festive giveaway. Photo: Elson Li
Hong Kong economy

Help for needy as Hong Kong power firms set to reveal tariff plans for 2024

CLP Power says it will budget HK$70 million to support low-income families in 2024 while HK Electric has earmarked HK$55 million for initiatives.

Hong Kong’s two power companies supply different parts of the city. Photo: Edmond So
Hong Kong housing

‘75% of Hongkongers in low-income district raise hygiene, building safety concerns’

NGO poll also finds less than 7 per cent of residents in Sham Shui Po satisfied with government inspection efforts following spate of incidents involving falling concrete.

John Lee

Hong Kong leader vows to focus on housing, land supply and tackle subdivided flats

Chief Executive John Lee visits family of four in subdivided flat in Yuen Long, the second stop of his community visits aimed at gauging public opinion.

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Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Healthcare specialists cool to expanded Hong Kong elderly voucher scheme

More publicity is needed, as most elderly people don’t know about latest four services added to list, professionals say.

The healthcare voucher scheme, introduced in 2009, provides everyone aged 65 or older with HK$2,000 to pay for primary healthcare services in the private sector. Photo: Felix Wong
Hong Kong housing

Walled City ex-resident turns to Hong Kong court over public housing denial

Retiree files application for judicial review over policy barring him from public housing after he accepted compensation 30 years ago when his flat was demolished.

Retiree Hui, 74, will take the government to court after filing a judicial review. Photo: Yik Yeung-man
Hong Kong society

Hong Kong elderly suffering depression and anxiety, survey finds

Half of city’s lower-income elderly have moderate to severe depression or anxiety, poll finds.

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Hong Kong economy

Power bill cuts not enough to help Hong Kong Island’s poorest residents: NGO

HK Electric to cut surcharge by 15.5 per cent over January levels as global fuel prices fall, but Sze Lai-shan of Society for Community Organisation says more relief needed for residents living in subdivided flats.

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