Chaplain of Filipinos in Hong Kong, Divine Word missionary Fr. Emil Lim, said the local Church of Hong Kong is supporting their campaign.
He said Bishop John Tong and the Diocesan Curia have sent directives to all parish priests to allow them to raise funds to send to the Philippines.
“That opens the channel for our Filipino parish-based groups to do their part locally and engage the help of the Chinese parishioners,” Lim said.
The SVD missionary noted that since many of OFWs in Hong Kong are domestic helpers, “they get their employers to help and donate as well.”
Lim disclosed that all financial donations will be submitted to Caritas Hong Kong who will do the money transfer to Caritas Philippines.
“They (Caritas) can issue receipts for the purpose of tax-deductions for the donors,” he said.
The priest said they are exploring many possibilities to have the aid reach the recipients as quickly as possible.
“Filipino crews of Cathay Pacific airways are working to get their company to carry the material donations and relief goods free of charge. This is a quicker channel than the door-to-door cargo which is by ship,” he said.
Lim said they are coordinating with other civic groups doing similar campaigns to fast track the delivery of donations.
He also asked the Philippine Consulate to help them get the required clearances for customs and other procedures for bringing in donations.
“There seems to be a law that governs this activity and it is a sticking point in the process. We have to be aware of these procedures to avoid the relief goods getting stuck in the bureaucracy at the airport,” the priest said.
Lim said St. Joseph Parish in Central has been designated as a drop-in centre for collecting donations from different parishes.
“We are setting the collecting, sorting-out, packing, labeling, stocking of relief goods at St. Joseph Parish,” he said. “This provides a chance for volunteers to exercise their bayanihan spirit,” he added.
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