HSBC Employees In Voluntary Relief Effort To Help Tsunami Victims
By Zalia Zaini

Bandar Seri Begawan - HSBC has been continuously playing its role in helping the community as part of its social contribution to the society.

Employees of the bank are currently involved in donating money and conducting various relief efforts in aid of the Sumatra Earthquake and Tsunami disaster victims.

Apart from making an initial donation of US$1 million via The Hongkong Bank Foundation, HSBC in Hong Kong also flew 160,000 face masks and 30,000 pairs of gloves to the Red Crescent Society in Indonesia.

The employees of HSBC across Asia Pacific have also been collecting food and medical supplies in support of local charities in affected countries.

This was revealed by Pg Azaleen Pg Dato Mustapha, Chairman of HSBC's Sports and Social Club while coordinating the relief work at Disaster Operations Centre at HSBC's main branch in the capital.

He added that the voluntary relief effort involves 40 HSBC staff working in rotated shifts on a daily basis, packaging and arranging donated clothing and blankets into boxes.

"The first consignment of donated items will be handed over to The Brunei Scouts Association's Relief Centre today and will be flown directly to Banda Aceh in Sumatra," Pg Azaleen said.

In other parts of Asia Pacific, HSBC offices have been involved in the coordination of relief efforts to help local relief agencies and non-governmental organisations in rehabilitation and livelihood restoration.

The relief efforts involve immediate initial donations to relief agencies, staff donations, voluntary donation of one day's salary from employees, clothing and food, and coordinating donations from the general public on behalf of National Disaster Relief Agencies.

"Apart from blankets, we are encouraging donations of clothing particularly children's clothing. We are very selective in screening the donated items to ensure only those in good conditions are accepted. For future consignments, we are considering canned and dried food and possibly bottled water, subject to the requests and requirements of the Brunei Scouts Association".

Pg Azaleen also said that the "scale and international impact of Tsunami is unprecedented requiring exceptional action from international community".

He further added that HSBC and its employees are keen to join the international community to help mitigate the effects of the disaster. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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