Hong Kong – Civil service volunteers introduce children to horse riding fun (with photos)

     About 20 children from grassroots families today (January 20) visited the Tuen Mun Public Riding School in the company of civil service volunteers to sample the fun of horse riding and learn about the environment of horses at the stables.
 
     The volunteers today came from different grades of the Water Supplies Department (WSD), including Engineers, Waterworks Inspectors and Technical Officers. The Secretary for the Civil Service, Mrs Ingrid Yeung, and the Director of Water Supplies, Mr Tony Yau, also participated to express support for the event.
 
     Mrs Yeung said, “The children taking part in the event today have never been around horses. They were very excited to be able to have close contact with the horses under the good care of the volunteers and the patient guidance from staff. Seeing the bright smiles and excitement of the children riding on the back of the horses is the best reward for the volunteers.”
 
     This marks the first volunteer activity fostered by the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) and jointly organised by civil service volunteer teams, the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) and district organisations. It also received sponsorship from the HKJC. The CSB will continue to work with the HKJC to enable more civil service volunteer teams to actively promote volunteer services and serve the community through liaison and collaboration with social welfare organisations in different districts.
 
     Mrs Yeung said, “The CSB has been encouraging civil servants to participate in volunteer services. Apart from showing civil servants’ care for those in need, volunteerism can bolster the solidarity of the civil service and deepen colleagues’ understanding of public needs. In this way, they can provide public service in their respective posts which are more targeted and can better meet the needs of the people. We will continue to support volunteer teams of various bureaux/departments (B/Ds) in organising volunteer activities and providing more diversified volunteer services by joining hands with the community so that their co-operation can achieve greater synergy.”
 
     At present, 70 volunteer teams have been formed by different B/Ds to provide volunteer services of diversified categories and formats from time to time. Among them, the WSD volunteer team established in 2002 has been consistently participating in community services.