(9th February 2007, Hong Kong):  The Air Cargo Community Day Crèche was opened today as representatives of the air cargo community including Chun Yu Logistics Holdings Limited, Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) and Hongkong Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics Limited (HAFFA) unveiled the plaque bearing the Day Crèche’s new name.  Located at the headquarters of the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children, the Day Crèche was named after the air cargo community to honour the generous donation given to the Society in support of its child care services.

The funds donated to the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children amounted to HK$1.5 million, and were raised by the Air Cargo Community Charity Carnival, held in 2003, as well as the Air Cargo Community Charity Golf Day, organised in the following year by the major players in the air cargo industry, including Air Cargo Golf Association, Chun Yu Logistics Holdings Limited, the Carrier Liaison Group, DHL Express (HK) Limited, Hactl, HAFFA, and The Hong Kong Shippers’ Council. Hactl was the major sponsor in both events.

The funds were used to support the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children in the provision of quality child care and education services in Hong Kong, including improvement of day crèche service, nursery service, children residential service, as well as the development of new services including after-school care service for primary school students, and the running of the “Children and Family Service Centre”, which provides preventive support and crisis support to needy families.

The Day Crèche at the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children headquarters in Portland Street, now officially named Air Cargo Community Day Crèche, was established in 1988 to provide day care service for children in a safe and stimulating environment to nurture their growth and development.  Subvented by the Hong Kong SAR government, the Day Crèche currently serves around 80 children from age 0 to 2, providing them with specially designed program that includes care giving, play, exploratory and learning activities to meet their various developmental needs.

Officiating at the ceremony, Mr. Michael Lee, President of the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children, said, "I would like to express my gratitude to the players in the air cargo community, whose donation will enable us to further strengthen our child-care and education services.  Hong Kong has about one-fourth of its children coming from low-income families; others are from single-parent families and new immigrants from China as well as those coming from South Asia.  These families lack the necessary resources to make a good start as well as the much-needed help in caring for their young children.  The Air Cargo Community Day Crèche will help us live up to our mission of providing a safe and caring environment for the children under our care.  Their parents can now be at ease in their workplace, knowing that their children are in very good hands. Today, the Hong Kong Society for the Protection of Children serves 2,500 children and 75% of them come from low income and needy families.”