Hong Kong Red Cross - History

History

  • On 12 July 1950, the Hong Kong Red Cross was established as a branch of the British Red Cross Society, in the same year, the first group of lady volunteers was formed. It started to provide blood collection service in 1952, established its first hospital school in 1954 and formed its first cadet unit at St Francis Canossian School in 1956.
  • 1962 Inauguration of the Princess Alexandra Red Cross Children's Residential School.
  • 1965 Inauguration of the Hong Kong Red Cross Headquarters at Harcourt Road.
  • 1968 The Red Cross Holiday Camp was opened at Shek Pik, Lantau Island.
  • 1975 Medical Equipment Loan Service was introduced.
  • 1977 Started to offer first aid training courses to the public and the industrial workers.
  • 1979 Assumed management of North Kai Tak Transit Centre.(Ceased in March, 1987)
  • 1984 Opening of the Blood Transfusion Service Centre at King's Park.
  • 1991 Hong Kong Red Cross rose over HK$144 million to provide relief for flood victims in Eastern provinces of People's Republic of China.
  • 1992 The first uniformed Elderly Volunteers Unit was set up.
  • In 1997, the sovereignty of Hong Kong was transferred to The People's Republic of China (PRC) on 1 July 1997, but Hong Kong Red Cross' autonomy remained unchanged. Thirteen years previous to Hong Kong's sovereignty transfer, the UK and the PRC had reached an agreement on the future of Hong Kong and embodied the agreement by signing the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Under the framework of the declaration, Humanitarian aid activity is part of the way of life in Hong Kong, and can be preserved for fifty years. With humanitarian aid activity being protected under this declaration, Hong Kong Red Cross remains a full national member of International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement today.
  • 2000 The Golden Jubilee of the Hong Kong Red Cross.
  • 2001 The former "Youth & Welfare Department" was split into "Youth & Volunteer Department" and "Health & Care Service Department".
  • 2002 The Red Cross Society of China Headquarters presents a "Special Contribution Award" to the Hong Kong Red Cross in recognition of her long-term support to disaster relief and preparedness projects and other development projects on the Mainland.
  • 2003 Prompt response to the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Hong Kong was made by the Hong Kong Red Cross.
  • 2006 The Golden Jubilee of Red Cross Youth, Hong Kong.

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