Introduction

Established in 1959, The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation (HKSR) is the pioneer in rehabilitation services in Hong Kong, and is also the longest-standing charity in Hong Kong that specialises in rehabilitation.

The manufacturing industries prospered from the 1950s to 1960s with textile industry and the manufacturing of plastic wares, garments and wigs taking the lead. This resulted in a huge increase in labour demand and the number of industrial accidents also surged during that period. The general public was not familiar with the concept of “Rehabilitation”, and the victims hurt by industrial accidents could hardly receive proper rehabilitation treatments. To establish the rights and opportunities for persons with disabilities, Prof. Sir Harry Fang, the Father of Rehabilitation, founded HKSR in 1959.

HKSR’s first-ever rehabilitation hospital was opened in 1962. It was the most modern centre of its kind in Asia at that time and was also the first accessible building in Hong Kong. The service of HKSR has expanded since then and the demand for rehabilitation services has increased rapidly. We commenced the service of Rehabus in 1978, established the Community Rehabilitation Network and the Vocational Rehabilitation and Retraining Centre in 1994, and opened our first social enterprise Wah Hong Convenience Store Ltd in 1997. From 2000 onwards, we have also established Easy-Access Transport Services Ltd, Cheng Tak Yim Day Rehabilitation & Care Centre and Yee Hong Heights which is a cross-border elderly care home in Shenzhen.

After years of development, The Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation now provides one-stop services for persons in need, ranging from rehabilitation, health management, accessible transport and travel, supported employment and elderly care services, to allow persons with disabilities and chronic illnesses to restore their potential and participate in the community, living a special fulfilling life with dignity. The Society has over 30 service units in Hong Kong and Mainland China with an annual attendance exceeding 1.3 million.

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Vision

We aspire to be an effective, impactful and caring organisation in holistic care and rehabilitation.

Mission

Through innovation in rehabilitation and empowering persons with disabilities or health conditions, we advocate holistic well-being, social participation, and an inclusive and enabling environment.

Values

We strive to uphold the following values in every one of our actions and interactions:
Value People – trust, dignity, respect, equal participation and communication
Professionalism – empathy, quality service, continuous development, commitment and in search of excellence
Integrity – honesty, truthfulness and accountability
Empowerment – having control, self-management and participation in public policy
Inclusiveness – respect diversity and a right-based approach

Our Founder

[In Chinese only. Copyright from RTHK. Duplication is not allowed.]

Rehabilitation – Professor Harry Fang’s life Long Mission

(Extracted from the 50th Anniversary Feature of the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation)

Professor Harry Fang was a renowned orthopaedic surgeon, a rehabilitation expert, an organizer, a volunteer, a fund raiser extraordinaire, a politician as well as a reformer. He devoted himself to helping persons with disabilities. Professor Fang has also taken up numerous public services to promote the worthy cause of rehabilitation work and sports for people with disability. His contribution was enormous, far-reaching, and highly respected by the government and people with disability worldwide. His enduring passion over the past fifty years earned him the title of “Father of Rehabilitation”.

Professor Fang developed his passion for rehabilitation as early as 1959. He established the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation together with dedicated colleagues to empower people with disability. He served the Society in various capacities. During his tenure the Rehabus service and the Community Rehabilitation Network were started. Over the years, the Rehabus service has evolved into a strong and professional service of more than 147buses and continued to be awarded an ISO 9001 merit. Apart from his direct involvement in the Society, Professor Fang also served in many other rehabilitation organizations and consumer groups.

Professor Fang’s proposals to raise funds for charitable cause in China for persons with disabilities were presented and finally accepted by the Premier Zhao Ziyang. In 1984, fundraising for welfare though lotteries sale began in China, providing financial resources for charitable projects for both the provincial and central governments. In the same year Professor Fang presented the Charter of the Eighties for Disabled People to Premier Zhao and Mr. Deng Pufang. China became a full member of Rehabilitation International in 1984.

Professor Fang was the first Asian to be elected as President of Rehabilitation International (RI) in 1980-1984. During his term of four years, Professor Fang elevated the status of RI and the needs of people with disability to the attention of world leaders. He also succeeded in raising funds to establish RI’s headquarters in New York. The United Nations declared 1981 as the Year of the Disabled during Professor Fang’s first year in office. He took this opportunity to personally lobby for the cause of people with disability before leading officials throughout the world.

In 1982, despite the limited availability of sports facilities, Professor Fang raised funds to organize the Third Far East and South Pacific (FESPIC) Games for the Disabled in Hong Kong. Athletes from twenty countries participated in the games. Professor Fang’s dedication to the promotion of sports among persons with disabilities was well rewarded. Hong Kong’s athletes with disability have won more than 120 medals in the past Paralympic Games. It is beyond doubt that the lifelong efforts of Professor Fang in rehabilitation have firmly established the rights and opportunities of people with disability enjoy in today’s society.