90s-Present

In October 1979, the then Governor Sir Murray MacLehose announced the new town development plan of Tseung Kwan O in his policy address. After years of careful planning and preparation, the three-phase Tseung Kwan O development plan was confirmed in 1982.

Not long after that, three public housing estates, namely Tsui Lam, King Lam and Hau Tak, were completed. Within a mere 10-year interval, Tsueng Kwan O had evolved into a new town housing tens of thousands of the local population. The sea area that Haven of Hope Chapel used to of face also reclaimed and become where Sheung Tak Estate is today.

The cross that used to face the sea is now opposite to local housing complexes. It has becomes a symbol of blessing and peace for the local community.

With the gradual development of Tseung Kwan O, the Haven of Hope Hospital timely adjustment itself to the social needs. Then the government proposed two possibilities for the Hospital’s future development: either developing the hospital into a 600-bed regional comprehensive and emergency hospital, or evoloving into a rehabilitation specialist hospital. Between 1990and 1992, after a few site inspections and through research, and the experts representing the government concluded that the uphill location of the hospital would be inconvenient for transportation, and that the Haven of Hope Hospital would be better suit to be developed into a rehabilitation specialist hospital instead.

To commemorate the contribution of Sister Annie Skau Bentsen to the Haven of Hope Hospital in the past two decades, the Haven of Hope School of Nursing was renamed after her. Sister Annie attended the opening ceremony in person as one of the officiating guests.

Sister Annie come back to Haven of Hope to share memories in the old days upon the 35^th anniversary of Haven of Hope. Nurses graduating from the Nursing School seized the chance to take photos with Sister Annie.

To facilitate better effective use of its financial and human resources, the Junk Bay Medical Relief Council (JBMRC) decided to exercise reform on its organization and management structure. The ideal candidate for the post “Chief Planning Officer” would be a senior physician. However, as the position was not government-funded, it took a long time to find the right candidate. Eventually, the Council’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr Anthony Leung Chi-tat, took up the post whereas Dr Benjamin Chak Kwong-ming, a senior physician, were appointed the “Medical Superintendent”.

The Junk Bay Medical Relief Council Renamed as “Haven of Hope Christian Service”

Six clinics were founded by the Haven of Hope in carious communitites within the Tsueng Kwan O new town

On May 24, 1994, Dr. Ding Lip-Kiu (Board Chairman) and Dr. Anthony Leung Chi-tat (Chief Executive Officer/Planning Officer) representatives of the Haven of Hope Hospital, signed an agreement with the Hospital Authority. Thereafter, the Haven of Hope Hospital became a public hospital under the supervision of the Hospital Authority, implying that its staff would be able to enjoy the same benefits as their counterparts in government-run hospital. The entire staff of the Haven of Hope Hospital agreed to the resulting job transfers.

Following Sister Annie’s footsteps, the Haven of Hope has been serving the community by focusing on human needs. Based on the philosophy of holistic care, our then services also covered spiritual carem education, and transportation needs based on the philosophy of whole-person care.

On November 26, 1992, Sister Annie passed away peacefully in Norway. Her entire life was devoted to care of the sick and the young, as well as the spread of the Gospel. She left behind a legacy of love and hope for the Haven of Hope as well as the local community. The Haven of Hope has continued to serve the local community based on Sister Annie’s devoting spirit of “Respecting Life ∙ Impacting Life”

Sister Annie spent all her life serving the sick and the young while spreading the Gospel. She left a legacy of love fot the Haven of Hope as well as the local community. Many of her friends and former colleagues attended her memorial services. They were reminded of her contribution as a role model of serving God through community work.

The Haven of Hope Hospital organized the Cantonese Opera Charity Concert to raise funds for palliative care as well as services for the mentally disabled and the aged.

After a series of turmoil including having the school building being listed as a ‘dangerous building’ and the final closure of the old school complex, the new Sunnyside School campus was eventually opened for use on January 19, 1996. The new campus could accommodate 10 classes, totaling 80 day students and 60 boarders.

Designed specifically for the mentally-disabled youth, the new Sunnyside School campus were equipped with all kinds of training facilities including the spa pool. Students would be able to acquire stimulation of different senses necessary for their cognitive training through guided use of these facilities.

Since 1996, “Qile Cake” Charity Sale has become the annual, all-territory event of the Haven of Hope.

The “Qile Cake” for sale this year were mini mooncakes. With the support of a few local Cantonese Opera stars, the proceeds went to the “Geriatric Home Care Services” programme.

Upon the completion of the new hospital in July 1997, Haven of Hope Hospital’s capacity increased from 257 to 365 beds, Specialists services in Geriatrics, Pulmonary and Palliative Medicine together with a full range of Allied Health and Supporting Services were offered. There are also a chaplaincy unit, a mini-chapel and a large patient activity room to enhance psycho-social and spiritual care of the patients. Infirmary services were introduced in the previous hospital site to meet the increasing need of the community.

According to the Charter, “With loving care and profession, we serve with progressive and evangelistic attitudes, we commit.”

The new logo features two people bending towards the ground and praying devotedly face-to-face, with symbolizes the central role of Christ within the Haven of Hope striving to serve the community. The shinning wite dot represents the light of hope with regard to the Haven of Hope’s services of those in need.

In response to the rapid and extensive development of Tsueng Kwan O(TKO) New Town, HOHCS sets “Healthy Cities” as the service development direction and comits to develop TKO new town into a Healthy Cites. We actively collaborate with government departments and other services agencies, encourage community participation, emphasize health promotion, strengthen primary health care, etc. The ultimate goal is to empower the residents of TKO to enjoy holistic health in a healthy and caring community.

Reference: HOHCS Annual Report 1997/1998

Besides the Opening Ceremony, the “Haven of Hope Month” lasting for one while month started on the same day for introducing our services to public.

“We believe that when the man and women enter a nursing home, they should not view it as an institution but a share room – a place where each person’s dignity and rights are not only protected, but respected and guaranteed. It should be a plave where quality of life is assured; a place where all of a person’s needs are met by caring for the spirit as well as the body.”

Reference: HOHCS Annual Report 1995-1996

To put one of our core value “Respecting Life” into action, and in response to to the needs of elders in their last stages of life – the “Passing Away at Home Peacefully” services was launched at the Nursing Home to save them from the torture and pain of running between the Nursing Room and the Emergency Room. The Haven of Hope Nursing Room is the first ever provider of end-of-life-care services at a nursing facility in Hong Kong.

2003 was a miserable year of Hong Kong. Under the threat of SARS, the Haven of Hope team bravely fought against the epidemic together with the local community, demonstrating courage and professionalism inspired by Sister Annie. Nurse Christine Lam recounted that the 3/F Left Wing was listed as highly vulnerable zone at that time. As the Nursing Home had to take care of 20 patients transferred from Tai Po Hospital. Despite their fear, the team preserved to serve with loyalty. “I was suddenly reminded of Sister Annie who had served patients with the equally contagious tuberculosis. Therefore, I did my best to take care of those highly vulnerable patients, being inspired with hope. With our team’s joint effort and God’s protection, we safely overcame the most difficult moment.”

HOHCS invited two overseas speakers, Prof. Asuman Kiyak from the University of Washington at Seattle and Prof. Ada Mui from the University of Columbia, New York, together with invited local speakers shared international and local experience on case management and quality service in the elderly service. About 470 participants attended the conference.

In recognition of the promotion of health and prevention of disease, World Health Organization Western Pacific Region awarded Healthy Cities Good Practice Award 205 to Sai Kung District Council. Dr. Lam Ching-choi, Chief Executive Officer of the Haven of Hope  received the Award.

Founded in memory of Sister Annie, the Sister Annie Skau Nursing Home provides frail elders with 24-hour medical service and nursing care while offering all-round support for the elderly residents and their family. 

The Nursing Home was housed in the former Siste Annie Skau Nursing School building. It would accommodate 90 elders.

The Haven of Hope has been dedicated to promote and practice different tailor-made programs for end-of-life care. In September 2006, we hosted a conference on end-of-life care and looked into issue with a range of professionals including doctors, nurses, social workers, and university professors. The conference attached more than 500 participants from various sectors.

Reference: HOHCS Annual Report 005/2006

HOHCS does not only take care of the everyday needs but also the spiritual needs of the physically or mentally disabled members of our community. Encouraging them to take part in religious activities, their stories and sharing were complied as Chinses Book, Obstacle-Free Worship: Caring for the Spirtiual Needs of the Mentally Disabled (in Chinese 《無障礙敬拜—照顧智障人士的靈性需要》). This was published in 2009.

In April 2009, HOHCS introduced a new self-financing service, “TotalCare”, operated by a trans-disciplinary healthcare team offering professional and one-stop home care solutions to elderly chronic patients in the community. 

Reference: HOHCS Annual Report 2009/2010

To boost the self-confidence of the disabled and to enhance their interactions with other members of our community, free soccer training specially designed and moderated by Mr. Leslie Santos (former Hong Kong Top Footballer) was offered to trainees at the Haven of Hope Integrated Vocational Rehabilitation Service Centre in May 2009.

Reference: HOHCS Annual Report 2009/2010

HOHCS initiated the Health Care Trainee Program with the aim of training young people to join the ranks of nursing professionals. Students in the program acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes relevant to the provision of frontline nursing care, while gaining practical experience at various service unit in Haven of Hope. We hope to train up talents in the filed as our response to the industry’s need and help to map out the young people’s future career development.

Reference: HOHCS Annual Report 2010/2011

In October 2011, the “Food Pack with Love” Charity Scheme was launched to help the elderly withstand the effect of rising food prices by supplying fresh food ingredients. Volunteers deliver ready-to-cook, packaged meat and vegetables twice a week to the elderly in need at certain public housing estates.

Reference: HOHCS Annual Report 2011/2012

Throughout the years, HOHCS has been holding firmly on to our services philosophy of “Respecting Life, Impacting Life” In an effort to further this message, we designated 8 March, 2012 as “Blue Ribbon Day”. Everyone who believes in “respect for life and its power to transform lives” was invited to wear a blue ribbon that day, and in doing so, to help spread this positive and encouraging message within their communities. The Blue Ribbon Day was received by more than 10 thousand Hongkongers. Celebrities including Eason Chan, Anthony Wong (aka Anthony Perry/Wong Chau-sang), Chan Kwok-pong, and Mini Lo pitched in. Many schools rallied participation amongst staff and members.

The Haven of Hope has evolved into an integral social services organization extending into a range of different areas including medical care, elderly services, rehabilitation, family services, social enterprise and evangelical work. We served over 800,000 users in the year 2012/2013 alone.

Reference: HOHCS Annual Report 2012/2013