Since 1996, we have contributed more than HK$180 million in charitable donations and community sponsorship of worthy causes, including HK$16 million in 2005. Our senior executives contribute their time, taking up roles and positions with charitable organisations and public bodies. Our staff members made charitable donations totalling nearly HK$1.6 million in 2005 through Hang Seng-organised initiatives and have given more than 4,600 hours of time to volunteer with community projects focusing on the elderly, young people and the environment.

We provided financial and volunteer support to beneficiaries such as the Community Chest of Hong Kong and various charities assisting with the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami relief efforts. Our community sponsorship activities focused primarily on education, community service and support of sports and the arts.

Hang Seng Staff Donations in 2005

Charitable Activity	HK$
Tsunami	902,000
Hong Kong Disneyland Charity Day	336,000
Dress Casual Day	360,000

We are also facilitating charitable donations by our customers through our e-Donation service. Over HK$6 million has been donated to a wide range of charities since the service was established in December 2001.

Education remains the keystone of our community development efforts. Since 1995, we have helped more than 950 students through the allocation of over HK$46 million to various scholarship programmes.

In 2005, we awarded six scholarships to outstanding students in Hong Kong and on the Mainland under our Hang Seng Bank Overseas Scholarship Scheme, which enables recipients to undertake studies at leading universities in the United States and the United Kingdom. A total of 46 students have benefited from the scheme since its launch in 1996.

We also awarded local scholarships to over 130 students who are studying at tertiary institutions in Hong Kong and on the Mainland.

We continued to help secondary school students develop important language skills and knowledge of the media through our support of the Ming Pao Student Reporters Programme.

Since 1998, we have partnered with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra to bring the joy of classical music to more than 360,000 students through the 'Hang Seng Bank Blossom with Music' musical education programme. Over 70,000 young people benefited from the 2005-6 programme, which included a chamber concert for around 300 children from special schools held at our Penthouse.

As a committed patron of the arts, we are a long-standing supporter of the Hong Kong Arts Festival. In 2006, we sponsored the Festival's finale - a widely acclaimed production of Mozart's Don Giovanni.

Our enthusiasm for sports development stems from a desire to promote a healthier way of life and help the younger generation learn valuable lessons in teamwork, setting goals and achievement.

Since 1991, we have provided over HK$20 million to support table tennis training in Hong Kong. This includes our sponsorship of the Hang Seng Table Tennis Academy, which since its establishment in 2001 has helped more than 88,000 participants nurture their sporting skills.

Hong Kong's local athletes provide inspiration for tomorrow's heroes. We help reward sporting excellence through the Hang Seng Athlete Incentive Awards Scheme, organised by the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI).

This scheme provides cash incentives to Hong Kong athletes that put in medal-winning performances at the 10th National Games, 4th East Asian Games and the 2008 Olympic and Paralympic Games. In November 2005, Hang Seng and the HKSI jointly presented around HK$800,000 to athletes for their outstanding achievements at the 10th National Games and 4th East Asian Games.

Over the past ten years, about HK$6.5 million has been awarded to 81 medallists under the Scheme.