Thailand was the first country to report the case of Covid-19 outside of China in January 2020. In March, two weeks before the first lockdown in Bangkok, the Hong Kong Ladies’ Group was ready to host one of our major events, The International Food & Tourism Fair 2020. It was finally postponed as we took responsibility for the health and safety of our guests.
Treasuring our handful of gatherings
Throughout the twenty months since Thailand closed its borders to the outside world, we continued to put the safety of our members as a priority. HKLG membership supported the Thai government initiatives for social distancing; especially under the consideration that many of our members are senior citizens or mothers with young children. For the past year until present, we have held only a handful of gatherings marking important festivities. We celebrated the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival last October; over six months after the virus first hit Thailand. In November, we held our Annual General Meeting luncheon to celebrate our birthday anniversary a month before the second wave. In March this year, we celebrated the International Women’s Day. By invitation of the Thai Hong Kong Trade Association, HKLG participated and supported Hong Kong Nostalgic Night in the same month.
HKLG 30th anniversary
HKLG was founded in 1991 and this year marks our 30th anniversary. Due to the Covid situation, we are unable to host any event for the grand celebration this year. Nevertheless, we are grateful that our membership is in good health. Thankful for modern communications, our members are in touch with each other from our group chat, sharing daily doses of laughter, community news and useful information.
Charity drive
This July, when the numbers of Covid cases were significantly high, field hospitals were set up around Bangkok. HKLG played our small part to help the local Thai community during this difficult time through the International Support Foundation ISGF. In August, we donated new mattresses for a field hospital organised by Busarakam Hospital in Suvarnabhuni Airport, with the aim to treat 5,000 Covid patients with 1,000 beds for those critically ill. Another dozen of our generous members made individual personal donations to this charity drive. On an annual basis, HKLG supported two ISGF student scholarships.
In March, HKLG celebrated International Women’s Day with attendance of many members and friends. The House of Grace, a refuge for teen moms and abused women, was invited to present to the foundation. Members brought pre-loved clothing as donation to the worthwhile cause.
Looking into the future
Covid has certainly affected lives of our members. Many who frequently travel between HK and Thailand, have missed seeing their families for the past two years. Who will travel when the quarantine restrictions in Hong Kong are 21 days and then to return to Bangkok will be another 7 days under Thailand ASQ rules? Returning to Hong Kong means a total of full five weeks to be isolated in a hotel room. By having faith in the future, the Hong Kong Ladies’ Group continues to be optimistic.
HKLG hope everyone will come out from these trying times to be more tolerant and appreciate life better. We look forward to hosting our International Food & Tourism Fair in 2022 when normalcy returns, and to celebrate our 31st anniversary with families and friends!
Hong Kong Ladies’ Group is a Bangkok based, non-profit making social group founded in 1991. Our objective is to assist newly arriving lady expatriates from Hong Kong to adjust to their new environment and to meet new friends through the monthly luncheons and activities. Apart from promoting friendship, unity and mutual support amongst its members during their residence in Thailand, HKLG has also established charitable trusts, funds from which are used to help the needy throughout the country.
Interested parties can contact us at email: [email protected]
