The Chief Executive's wife Selina Tsang has called for volunteers to help the needy and create a harmonious and mutual-aid society.

Speaking at the Hong Kong Volunteer Award presentation ceremony today Mrs Tsang said the city's volunteers helped in Sichuan earthquake relief and during the Beijing Olympic Games.

"They managed to convey care and warm support to the disastrous areas and spared no efforts in making the Olympic Games a highly acclaimed international event."

Director of Social Welfare Stephen Fisher thanked people and organisations for their dedication to volunteer work.

Since the promotion of the volunteer service in 1998 to the end of October this year, about 800,000 registered volunteers and more than 1,800 registered organisations have committed to volunteer service. In 2007 the registered volunteers devoted more than 19 million hours of service to the community.

Awards were presented today to commend the outstanding contribution of volunteers. In 2007 more than 60,000 volunteer certificates were issued to committed volunteers, including 25 volunteers who had served the community for more than 20 years.

These volunteers were commended along with individual volunteers and volunteer organisations that offered the highest number of service hours.