At the Bone Marrow Donor Recipient meeting co-organized by the Hong Kong Red Cross and the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers (HKFI) yesterday (Wednesday, 5 April 2006), representatives of insurance companies pledged full support to the Hong Kong Bone Marrow Donor Registry.

Among the first batch of insurers pledged to encourage and mobilize their agents and staff to register as bone marrow donors were HSBC Insurance (Asia-Pacific) Holdings Limited, Pacific Century Insurance Holdings Ltd and Zurich Insurance Group (HK).

Speaking at the pledge ceremony, HKFI Chairman Mr Roddy Anderson said, "The insurance industry as always is committed to charitable cause.  Apart from making financial donation to support the operation of the Bone Marrow Donor Registry, our member companies also pledged to support this very worthwhile mission. It marks the beginning of our long-term efforts in promoting the public awareness on bone marrow donation. We hope that by working behind the scene, we will be able to recruit more volunteers to join the growing number of donors."

"We are specially thankful to the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers for their generous donation of $500,000 to support our Donor Registry," remarked Dr Vincent Lo, JP, Chairman of the Blood Transfusion Service Governing Committee. “Most impressive of all, their member companies have put the support into action by motivating their agents and staff to register as bone marrow donors."

Below are some photographic mementos of the pledge ceremony.

Mr Roddy Anderson, Chairman of the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers, speaks before the Pledge Ceremony held on 5 April 2006.

(From left) HSBC Insurance (Asia-Pacific) Holdings Limited's Fiona Yip, Pacific Century Insurance Holdings Ltd's Brenda Li, Zurich Insurance Group (HK)'s Allan Yu and Angela Yeung and Hong Kong Federation of Insurers' Leo Ma and Peter Tam pledged to support the bone marrow donor registry.