The recent outbreak in Hong Kong is coming to an end following a significant decrease in local infection cases. We all cannot wait to resume social activities. At the same time, this April is also a milestone to our organisation. To better engage with the local community we start to provide a Chinese version for our social media posts. This article reviews the activities that happened at our centre in the past month.
隨著新冠病毒的感染人數顯著下降，本港第五波疫情漸見曙光。大家都期盼早日回復正常的社交生活。對本會而言，本月同是一個里程碑。為更深入與本地社群互動，本會將為社交媒體發佈的資訊提供中文版本。本文回顧過去一個月本會曾舉辦的活動。
About Us 關於我們
The Refugee Union was founded in 2014 and is the first refugee-led organisation in Hong Kong. Our centre is currently based in Sheung Wan. We work with visions to safeguard refugee rights and to improve the status quo of asylum seekers and refugees in Hong Kong.
難民聯會 (Refugee Union) 於2014年成立，為本港首個由尋求庇護者和難民自發組織和營運的團體。本會的會址現位於上環。自成立以來，本會一直致力於保障難民權益和改善本港尋求庇護者和難民的待遇。
Emergency Food Drive 緊急糧食儲備
Government offices and supporting organisations are closed during the lockdown. The refugee community has nowhere to seek help. Necessities went into shortage and prices went high as a result of panic buying. But for asylum seekers, they are prohibited from working and are solely reliant on HK$40 (US$5) a day to survive. The pandemic has further worsened their situation.
In view of this, we have initiated a fundraising campaign online. It is our hope to gather community resources and redistribute to asylum seekers and refugees who are in need. Kindly show your support for our Emergency Food Drive.
本港第五波疫症爆發期間，公共醫療服務幾近癱瘓。社區出現恐慌性消費，令糧食和生活必需品價格上漲，甚至陷入短缺。本港的難民群體成為被遺忘的一群，未有獲得適切的協助之餘，亦求助無門。
尋求庇護者不獲准在港工作，僅以每天約HK$40的津貼過活。疫情在社區造成的影響對他們而言可謂雪上加霜。有見及此，本會發起了一項線上眾籌，希望匯集社區資源支援本港難民社群。本會懇請各位善心人士慷慨解囊，助難民群體度過難關。
Abolish the Food Card System 廢除糧食卡制度
We have also initiated an online petition calling for abolishing the refugee food card system. Asylum seekers are only allowed to purchase items at the ParknShop supermarket. For the past eight years the policy has not changed, nor has the card value increased with inflation. It is unreasonable to distrust asylum seekers from managing the HK$40 a day to purchase items they need at the cheapest price they can find in the neighbourhood.
We respectfully request the Hong Kong Government to review the food card system and stipend for asylum seekers. Kindly show your support for us by signing the petition.
本會早前亦草擬了一封呈請書，呼籲特區政府廢除針對尋求庇護者的糧食卡制度。現時本港的尋求庇護者僅以每月HK$1,200 (相當於每日HK$40) 額度的糧食卡於百佳超級市場購買糧食和生活必需品。特區政府自八年前實施糧食卡制度以來從未檢視該政策的成效。實際上，本港生活成本高昂，糧食卡的額度早已追不上通脹。另一方面，有關尋求庇護者僅能於百佳超級市場購物的限制亦剝奪了他們以更相宜的價格購買糧食和生活必需品的機會。
本會懇請特區政府廢除針對尋求庇護者的糧食卡制度，並檢視現行尋求庇護者每月獲發津貼的金額。本會現誠邀各位聯署支持，以改善本港尋求庇護者和難民的待遇。
Giving is a Blessing 施比受更有福
This month we received donations of wide-ranging items. We would like to take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to all generous donors for lending us a hand. Your support means a lot to us. As always, we promise to deliver all donations we received to asylum seekers and refugees who are in need.
本會於過去一個月獲善心人士捐贈大量物資。本會衷心感謝各位的慷慨解囊，並已將收集到的物資全數送到尋求庇護者和難民家庭手中。
Please stay tuned to our official website and social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter) for the most updated information. You are also welcome to contact us by email at info@refugeeunion.org or by visiting our centre during office hours (Mondays to Saturdays, 10am-6pm).
請繼續關注本會的官方網站和社交媒體專頁 (Facebook、Instagram、Twitter) 以獲取本會發佈的最新資訊。亦歡迎各位以電郵 (info@refugeeunion.org) 形式聯絡本會或親臨到訪 (辦公時間：星期一至六 上午10時至下午6時)。
