Dedicated to Community Service Despite Obstacles

Supervisor Chu Tak Wing has always been committed to community service. Apart from being the school's Supervisor, he also serves on the Tsuen Wan District Council. He is the Honorary President of the Tsuen Wan Junior Police Call, the Chairman-designate of the New Territories General Chamber of Commerce, etc. His accomplishments in the realms of business, politics, education, and community services are all noteworthy. In his early forties, he has proven to be a talented individual at an early stage in life. Mr. Chu was awarded a seat on the Huizhou Municipal Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference this month, demonstrating that his accomplishments are widely recognized and acknowledged by the community.   A love for the motherland and a commitment to traverse the treacherous path 　　Mr. Chu acknowledged that the path to the CPPCC was not an easy one. “As a child, I studied in the United States, whereas the CPPCC uses Putonghua as its official meeting language and Hakka as its everyday language of communication. When I first joined the CPPCC, it was a difficult and arduous journey,” he said. Despite the language barrier, Mr. Chu did not give up because he knew that the CPPCC position would provide him with more opportunities to fulfil his ambitions. Through his proposals, he was able to bring livelihood issues directly to the attention of the leadership so that the appropriate remedy could be found and solutions could be discussed. For instance, he was able to promote a number of food safety testing measures in response to the tainted milk powder, fake soy sauce, and fake eggs in the mainland. Mr. Chu is most concerned about education among all livelihood issues. “The country has a great demand for education, but there are still many school-age children who drop out of school because of the poverty of their families, which is regrettable,” he said. Therefore, Mr. Chu collaborated with the Wai Yeung Merchants Association to plan the construction of schools in the mainland. Even more touching is the fact that he and the Hong Kong CPPCC donate 10,000 yuan annually out of their own pockets as a scholarship for students with outstanding academic performance in Huiyang to study abroad, demonstrating Mr. Chu’s strong patriotism and selfless dedication to the cause of education.

Calling Tsuen Wan Home

 　　Mr. Chu has contributed significantly to Hong Kong, particularly the Tsuen Wan District, in addition to his domestic duties in China. He said, “Tsuen Wan is where I grew up. I have lived in this community for decades. My business is here, my home is here, and it feels good to be able to realize my ambitions in this place where I have established my roots.” Mr. Chu is a member of the Tsuen Wan District Council, Vice-Chairman of the Tsuen Wan Chamber of Commerce, Vice-Chairman of the Tsuen Wan Festive Lighting Committee, Chairman of the Tsuen Wan Summer Youth Programme, Honorary President of the Tsuen Wan Junior Police Call, Honorary President of the Tsuen Wan Fire Safety Ambassadors, and Supervisor of the Tsuen Wan Trade Association Primary School. He is now applying to the government for a “District Farm” that will allow primary school students to learn to cultivate on abandoned farmland in order to instil in young people the values of “one meal and one soup” and a “green earth.” Moreover, in light of Hong Kong’s aging population, he is especially concerned with the welfare of the elderly. Aside from frequently visiting homes for the elderly, organizing activities, and understanding the needs of the elderly through discussions, he also places great importance on reviewing the adequacy of the facilities of the homes for the elderly in the district and then urging the authorities to make improvements to ensure the quality of their services. Tsuen Wan’s homes for the elderly have garnered wide acclaim for their high-quality standards.

　　Mr. Chu’s New Year’s Eve countdown event also deserves special mention. Mr. Chu’s carnival at Sha Tsui Road Playground in Tsuen Wan and the entire district of Tsuen Wan’s dazzling neon signs are two new additions to the traditional countdown venues of Times Square in Causeway Bay and the Clock Tower in Tsim Sha Tsui. “It’s absolutely incredible to be able to join in the joy with everyone!” Mr. Chu is not only multitalented, but he also embodies a spirit that students at Wai Kiu should strive to emulate: giving back to the community and “deriving joy from helping others.”

A Father as a Role Model, a Mother and a Wife as Backup

　　Mr. Chu’s official responsibilities were so extensive that the phone rang nonstop for an entire hour. “What is it that motivates you to work tirelessly for the community?” asked the reporter. “My dad is my source of inspiration!” His father is the former Supervisor of Wai Kiu College, Mr. Chu Chung Shing BBS. “Although he is a businessman who opens jewellery shops, invests in property, and runs restaurants, he is truly a conscientious businessman!” Each year, he made substantial contributions to the Community Chest and Yan Chai Hospital, launched a discount shopping program, and frequently donated items to auctions. His father taught him that mobilizing the power of the business community can have a much greater impact than acting alone. As a result, he was able to enlist the support of a large number of business organizations for the New Territories Community Chest Walk for Millions, which was held during Chinese New Year and raised a substantial amount of money. As the incoming chairman of the New Territories General Chamber of Commerce, he is now actively recruiting young businessmen to collaborate with charities and government service organizations in the form of social enterprises in order to revitalize community services.

　　The support of women is crucial to this man’s success. He said with affection, “I’m so lucky to have the two most amazing women in my life - my mom and my wife - who are always there for me.” Mr. Chu credited his mother with helping him mature into a responsible adult, and he was grateful to his wife for keeping the home and caring for their children so that he could focus on his career.
 

Words of Wisdom for Students at Wai Kiu College:

　　 Mr. Chu was concerned about the growth of Wai Kiu College. “It’s true that success doesn’t happen overnight, but I hope Wai Kiu keeps getting better every day.” Fortunately, under the direction of Principal Mr. Cheng Che Yin M.H., Wai Kiu College has met the expectations of its community. Mr. Chu lauded the school’s World Academy Program and Volunteer Service Program in recent years. “Students have travelled to locations such as London, Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Sichuan, Chongqing, Three Gorges on the Yangtze River, Kunming, Guangzhou, Huizhou, Macau, etc. These out-of-classroom activities embody Wai Kiu’s spirit of ‘embracing the motherland while maintaining a global perspective.’” All students are required to participate in the volunteer service program for at least 20 hours. Mr. Chu was pleased that the total number of volunteer hours reached 26,500 last year. “Not every student at Wai Kiu has an exceptional academic record, but they all have a caring heart and are eager to assist the needy in the community and benefit the residents of Sham Shui Po.”

　　Following the interview, Mr. Chu added, “Youth should not be hesitant to contribute their efforts. Time doesn’t hold back for anyone. Time can be passed by doing nothing or doing a lot. Why not experiment with something new? Open your heart to experience the world, and exert maximum effort to achieve perfection in your work. Surely there is something to be gained during the process - a sense of satisfaction and success - this could be the meaning of life!” Mr. Chu very much looks forward that Wai Kiu students realize their full potential, work hard and give back to the community, and live a meaningful and exciting life, just as he did.