-- On the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival, The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas), in collaboration with Hong Kong Christian Service (HKCS), organised the Dumplings with Love event. The Towngas-WSD Volunteer Team, formed by Towngas and the Water Supplies Department, accompanied over 40 “elders with emigrant children” to make and taste rice dumplings together, celebrating a warm and lively Dragon Boat Festival.
Some elderly people in Hong Kong remain living here alone as their children have emigrated overseas. According to HKCS’s survey, elders with emigrant children continue to face serious risks of depression and social isolation. Fortunately, more than half of the elders with emigrant children who showed tendencies towards depression have shown significant improvement after participating in HKCS’s “Community Helper - Support for Elders with Emigrant Children” programme, with an enhanced sense of well-being. Today’s Dumplings with Love event marks the second year of collaboration between Towngas and HKCS, aiming to help elders with emigrant children maintain active social lives. More than 20 volunteers participated in the dumpling-wrapping activity on the eve of the Dragon Boat Festival, making healthy vegetarian rice dumplings together with over 40 elders with emigrant children. Many of these elderly participants are actually dumpling-wrapping experts, happily sharing their skills with volunteers.
The elderly participants used nutritious ingredients such as mung beans and red beans to make delicious and healthy vegetarian rice dumplings. The activity not only enhanced their sense of well-being but also reminded them to be mindful of healthy eating. Additionally, a quiz game was held at the venue, with the Towngas-WSD Volunteer Team sharing energy and water-saving tips with the elderly.
Grandma Tam, 71, whose daughter emigrated five years ago, is celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival for the first time in five years, and is also making rice dumplings for the first time. She expressed her gratitude to the volunteers for their companionship during the festival, “Today, volunteers and other elderly friends taught me how to make rice dumplings and chatted with me. Celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival with everyone makes me happier, and making rice dumplings is really fun. If this event is held again next year, I will surely join.”
Grandpa Lam, 83, and his wife are participating in the rice dumpling-wrapping event for the second consecutive year. Mrs Lam even demonstrated dumpling-wrapping techniques to other participants. “Since our children emigrated, festivals have just been the two of us,” Mrs Lam said. “Today’s celebration with so many people creates such a lively atmosphere. Sharing my dumpling-making skills makes this Dragon Boat Festival more meaningful, and these vegetarian dumplings are a healthier option too.”
During the event, Towngas introduced the Sending Warmth to Thousands with Smart Technology programme, offering free installation of Smart Controllers for eligible elderly households. These devices allow the elderly and their carers to monitor cooking appliances via mobile phones and even remotely turn off the stove, alleviating concerns about the elderly forgetting to turn off the gas while cooking. This technology provides peace of mind for both the elders with emigrant children and their family members overseas.
Mr Felix Lee Kin-ming, Towngas Head of Group Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, hopes this event will broaden the social network of elders with emigrant children. He said, “We sincerely thank HKCS and all the volunteers for bringing festive care and warmth to the community, helping ‘elders with emigrant children’ overcome social isolation and integrate into the community. HKCS’s support programme for ‘elders with emigrant children’ effectively enhances the well-being of the elderly, which aligns with Towngas’s philosophy of caring for different groups in the community. Both parties will continue to collaborate in organising more diverse volunteer activities, bringing more warmth and care to the community.”
Ms Karrie Chan Chung-ho, Deputy Director (Elderly, Rehabilitation & Community) of Hong Kong Christian Service, stated, “Many elderly people lose their focus and role in life after their children emigrate, feeling particularly lonely during major festivals. We thank the volunteers from Towngas and the Water Supplies Department for accompanying the ‘elders with emigrant children’ during this festive season, helping them connect with the community. At the same time, we encourage the elderly to continue self-improvement, cultivate interests, and learn new knowledge. The energy-saving tips shared by Towngas today are immensely helpful for their daily lives.”
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Press photos:
Photo 1:
Towngas and Hong Kong Christian Service co-organise the Dumplings with Love 2025 event, where the Towngas-WSD Volunteer Team accompanies over 40 elders with emigrant children to make healthy vegetarian rice dumplings and celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival together.
Photo 2:
Elders with emigrant children work harmoniously with volunteers and other elderly participants, sharing joyful moments together.
Photo 3:
Many elderly participants are rice dumpling-wrapping experts, happily sharing their skills with volunteers.
Photo 4:
Elders with emigrant children enthusiastically participate in the prize quiz game.
Photo 5:
Mr Felix Lee Kin-ming, Towngas Head of Group Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, hopes this rice dumpling-wrapping event brings care and warmth to elders with emigrant children.
Photo 6:
Ms Karrie Chan Chung-ho, Deputy Director (Elderly, Rehabilitation & Community) of Hong Kong Christian Service, thanks the volunteers from Towngas and the Water Supplies Department for accompanying elders with emigrant children during the festival and helping them connect with the community.
Photo 7:
Grandma Tam (right) thanks the volunteers for their patient companionship and finds the rice dumpling-wrapping activity fun for her first time participating.
Photo 8:
Grandpa Lam and his wife, participating in the rice dumpling-wrapping event for the second year, express joy in celebrating with volunteers and other elderly participants.
Photo 9:
During the event, elders with emigrant children and volunteers taste rice dumplings together, enjoying the festive delicacy.
Photo 10:
Mr Ng Wai-wah, Towngas Senior Research & Metering Development Manager, introduces the Sending Warmth to Thousands with Smart Technology programme to elders with emigrant children, enhancing elderly home safety with Smart Controllers and Smart Meters.
For media enquiries, please contact:
Towngas
HKCS
Ms Kara Kwong
Assistant Corporate Affairs Manager
Tel: 2963 3497 / 6698 3357
Email: [email protected]
Mr Don Cheng
Assistant Manager (Public Relations)
Tel: 2731 6263 / 9356 1041
Email: [email protected]
Release ID: 89161532
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