The Civil Service Bureau's volunteer team today assisted the Society for the Deaf in organising games for “Hong Kong Sign Language Day 2024” at a shopping mall in Tai Wai. Visitors were given the chance to learn sign language and play games aimed at helping them to communicate with the hearing-impaired.

At an opening ceremony for the event, Secretary for the Civil Service Ingrid Yeung highlighted that this year is the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China (PRC), a joyous occasion for Chinese people, and that there are fewer than 10 days to go to until National Day.

She said that the bureau had co-ordinated various initiatives for the Civil Service Volunteer Service to celebrate the anniversary, explaining that 75 volunteer teams from various bureaus and departments are staging volunteer activities to mark the occasion.

“About 4,500 volunteers from the 75 teams will organise and participate in various activities from September to November to share the joy of the National Day with the public, foster a sense of patriotism in the community, and provide care for the needy,” she said.

In addition to festive events, the activities will include visits and guided tours, care visits, classes, handicraft workshops and sports activities. Mrs Yeung said that around 34,000 people will be involved in the events, including seniors, children and youngsters, grassroots families, people with disabilities and ethnic minorities.

Today's event featured display boards introducing sign language related to China, with designs incorporating different Chinese elements.

Volunteers and sign-language teachers gave sign-language lessons for visitors, introducing National Day-related words through simple games. The civil service chief joined bureau volunteers in learning sign-language phrases such as “75th anniversary”, “panda” and “Hong Kong, China”.