Position our community initiative
as part of our core business value
helped through our programmes active in 2021
distributed by the Swire Group Charitable Trust to support education, marine conservation and the arts
in cash and in-kind donations to the community by our operating companies
Community is not separate from our business – it is core to it. We recognise that when the communities in which we operate prosper, so do we. As neighbours and employers, we want to be responsible and involved members of those communities.
The goal of our community work is to create a better future by building stronger communities. We envision a flourishing world of diversity where all members of society have opportunities for a meaningful life, and where resources are sustained for future generations.
We support the local communities in which we operate through the Swire Group Charitable Trust (the Trust). Operating companies also make direct contributions to the communities in which they operate.
The Trust aims to make positive changes in education, marine conservation and the arts through support for charitable organisations in Hong Kong.
The Trust is funded by annual contributions from companies in the Swire Pacific Group. It is overseen by the Philanthropy Council, which is chaired by a member of senior management, and has tax-exempt charitable status in Hong Kong. Guided by the Swire motto – Esse Quam Videri – the Trust is motivated by altruism and acts for the direct benefit of society and the greater good.
Education
To enhance education equity, quality and innovation for disadvantaged children and youth.
Marine conservation
To help create sustainable marine ecosystems in Hong Kong through policy change, public engagement and scientific research.
Arts
To promote an inclusive arts sector, and to use arts to address social issues.
To celebrate Swire’s 150th year in Hong Kong and reaffirm our commitment to the place that has helped us prosper for so many years, Swire has injected an additional HK$150 million into the Trust to fund TrustTomorrow. This initiative has enabled the Trust to work with more than 40 organisations in Hong Kong, through multifaceted projects that connect the dots to build social capital and aim to drive lasting positive change in the community.
While our focus is on addressing long-term challenges, the additional funds also allowed us to extend practical and timely support to those in our community most affected by the global pandemic. Since 2020, we have contributed over HK$33 million to COVID-19 relief programmes.
First satellite tracking of Great Knots in Hong Kong
Waterbirds are key indicators of wetland ecosystem change. To better understand migratory routes, stopover sites, breeding…
Waterbirds are key indicators of wetland ecosystem change. To better understand migratory routes, stopover sites, breeding and wintering habitats of different waterbird species, TrustTomorrow is supporting the Hong Kong Bird Watching Society to launch its first satellite tracking project for Great Knots (listed as “Endangered” on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species) and other waterbirds.
The data collected will inform regional conservation strategies and provide further insight into the conditions and food availability of Asian coasts, which is closely linked to the health of life under water.
The Orchestra Academy bringing music to the community
TrustTomorrow supported the establishment of the Orchestra Academy Hong Kong (TOA), in conjunction with the Hong Kong…
TrustTomorrow supported the establishment of the Orchestra Academy Hong Kong (TOA), in conjunction with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), to promote an inclusive, vibrant arts sector in which talented Hong Kong musicians can shine on the world stage. The programme aims to enhance professional training for distinguished graduates from HKAPA’s School of Music and facilitate their career development in the orchestral field. Those who are admitted to TOA will contribute their talents to serve the community through volunteering, for example, providing voluntary instruction to players of the Hong Kong Blind Orchestra. Six fellows and 19 young players have been selected for the first cohort.
The Swire Sky-Flyer Work-integrated Learning Programme
In collaboration with the Vocational Training Council, the Swire Sky-Flyer Work-integrated Learning Programme aims to…
In collaboration with the Vocational Training Council, the Swire Sky-Flyer Work-integrated Learning Programme aims to enhance vocational and professional education and training for secondary school leavers. In 2021, HAECO and Swire Properties offered workplace experience and training in the specialised fields of aviation and hospitality, to enhance their employment prospects. Our support includes scholarships to students with outstanding performance and a subsistence allowance for those in need of financial support. Around 1,200 students will benefit from the programme over its three-year pilot.
Building Community, Building Tung Chung
Following the successful first phase of “Building Community, Building Tung Chung”, TrustTomorrow continues to partner…
Following the successful first phase of “Building Community, Building Tung Chung”, TrustTomorrow continues to partner with the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and four local NGOs to enrich Tung Chung.
Through a community-based holistic service model which includes sports programmes, community playgrounds, career planning activities and upskilling programmes for ethnic minorities, we see further strengthening of social connections and collaborations. One of the beneficiaries from the first phase also became a staff of one of the NGOs to give back to her community.
HK$8,707,540
HK$25,935,301
HK$19,141,305
HK$9,331,405
Grants
In 2021, the Swire Trust launched a new volunteering programme which enabled staff across the Group to contribute 2,385 hours of service to 58 meaningful activities. Through these activities, our staff provided direct support to our community and gained a deeper understanding of various social needs.
Victoria So – Serving people experiencing homelessness
Victoria is a flight attendant at Cathay Pacific and has always been an active member of the community. Out of all the TrustTomorrow volunteering activities she…
Victoria is a flight attendant at Cathay Pacific and has always been an active member of the community. Out of all the TrustTomorrow volunteering activities she joined, the Kindness Walk has been the most profound experience for her. Co-organised with ImpactHK, the activity took our staff volunteers on a guided tour of Tai Kok Tsui to visit and serve people experiencing homelessness.
Victoria was deeply moved during her visit to Tung Chau Street Park in Sham Shui Po, “I was shocked to see so many people struggling with homelessness in this city. They are usually those who have been forgotten by the society with limited opportunities to move up the social ladder. Through our interactions, I understand that what we can contribute is more than donations – it means a lot to show them our support and understanding.”
Yale Leung – Learning to communicate with people with visual impairments
Many of us may rely on sight to experience the arts, but it is different for people with visual impairments. Yale from John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Ltd. joined the Audio…
Many of us may rely on sight to experience the arts, but it is different for people with visual impairments. Yale from John Swire & Sons (H.K.) Ltd. joined the Audio Description Workshop organised by our long-term partner Arts with the Disabled Association, where participants are taught basic techniques to describe details to people with visual impairments (PVI).
Blindfolded, Yale had a first-hand experience of the day-to-day inconvenience and difficulties faced by PVI, which helped him with his audio description skills. “After the workshop, I have volunteered with other participants to join PVI in arts and leisure activities, such as heritage tours and non-visual photography. Through audio description, we hope that everyone can appreciate the vibrancy and wonder in this world.”
Our operating companies contribute directly to the communities in which we operate. We want to connect our projects in order to learn from each other. We aim to operate in a way that builds our business, our people and the communities in which we operate.
| Swire Trust | Property | Beverages | Aviation | Trading & Industrial | Marine Services | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total value of cash contributions (HK$) | $63,115,551 | $19,363,559 | $13,173,812 | $892,428 | $21,612 | $1,284,569 |
| Value of in-kind contributions (HK$) | – | $13,742,066 | $7,828,222 | $83,310 | $3,237,428 | – |
| Volunteer hours | 2,385 | 4,811 | 30,098 | 763 | 200 | 67 |