STORY: "Hong Kong Pals" bridges cultures and hearts through volunteerism
SHOOTING TIME: Sept. 7, 2024
DATELINE: Dec. 3, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:15
LOCATION: HONG KONG, China
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the program
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): AGNES TAM, "Hong Kong Pals" volunteer
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LEE KA LUN, "Hong Kong Pals" volunteer
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): BAKKY CHENG, Director of visitor services at the HKTB

STORYLINE:

Launched by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) in 2009, the "Hong Kong Pals" program has recruited enthusiastic citizens to showcase Hong Kong's unique lifestyle and cultural heritage to the world.

For years, it has brought together more than 100 individuals from diverse backgrounds, united by their shared passion for their beloved city.

Agnes Tam, a retired multinational corporation executive, was one of them.

She once helped a Hong Kong elder, who had left home at the age of five for Britain, relive his childhood memories through yellowed old photos.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Chinese): AGNES TAM, "Hong Kong Pals" volunteer
"When we parted, he gifted me that precious photo album to express his gratitude. I was touched. I joined this program before I retired, and what I didn't expect was that it wasn't just me helping others; it was the volunteer service that helped me."

Lee Ka Lun, a Ph.D. candidate in education at the University of Hong Kong, also chose to sign up for the "Hong Kong Pals" program.

SOUNDBITE 2 (Chinese): LEE KA LUN, "Hong Kong Pals" volunteer
"Having traveled to over 60 countries, I have never encountered such a unique program. I'm honored to be part of it."

For many Hong Kong Pals, volunteering is about offering help and rediscovering the city they call home.

SOUNDBITE 3 (Chinese): BAKKY CHENG, Director of visitor services at the HKTB
"Over the past 14 years, our volunteers have contributed nearly 70,000 hours of service. Through comprehensive training, we ensure every volunteer is updated with the latest tourism trends and masters the art of hospitality, so they can tell a better Hong Kong story to the world."

In the 2023-24 fiscal year, the volunteers, together with HKTB's visitor service team, provided travel advice to over 2 million tourists, answering more than 2.3 million inquiries.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Hong Kong, China.
(XHTV)