The idea of PHAB (stands for Physically Handicapped and Able-Bodied) was originated from the United Kingdom in 1950s, symbolising the meaning of persons with and without disabilities participating the community equally. In the 1970s, the founder of the UK PHAB Association, Mrs. Mary Robinson, introduced the concept of “Opportunity Not Pity” to Hong Kong.
The concept was further consolidated and eventually Hong Kong PHAB Association was established on 19th October 1972, responsible for the overall coordination and promotion of PHAB work within the community. The missions of the Association are to promote equal participation, mutual respect and integration for persons with and without disabilities; to develop diversified and socially desirable services and activities, and to transform the “PHAB Integration” from a work approach to a lifestyle, so that the general public could embrace the concept of “PHAB Integration” in their everyday life.
In February, the Association organized the 1st PHAB Discovery Challenge and PHABestival
In March and April, Project of Promoting Community Wellness and WeCare Community Support Project, sponsored by Advisory Committee on Mental Health, were launched respectively
In September, i-Point District Support Centre (Southern), subvented by the Social Welfare Department, commenced operation at the temporary site situated at Jockey Club PHAB Centre
In February, PHAB Mobile Pain Centre, funded by Bank of China (Hong Kong), commenced operation
In March, sub-base of Jockey Club Shatin Integrated Service Centre located in Chun Yeung Estate commenced operation
In July, the Association was sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust to launch Jockey Club Support Programme for Persons with Newly Acquired Disabilities
In November, the Kowloon East PHAB Centre in Wong Tai Sin Estate resumed service after renovation subvented by the Lotteries Fund.
In January, Pleasure Place - a Supported Hostel for Mentally Handicapped Persons subvented by the Social Welfare Department commenced operation and was located at San Po Kong.
In March, Family Hub Parent/Relatives Resource Centre subvented by the Social Welfare Department commenced operation at Tai Po.
In March, the Peng Chau Neighbourhood Elderly Centre implemented the “Happy Ageing in Peng Chau” project funded by the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund.
In April, Jockey Club “Strike Back” Support Project for Stroke Survivors commenced service and provides counselling service and post-discharge rehabilitation service for community-dwelling stroke survivors and their carers.
In October, “PHAB as ONE” Youth Team was established with youth members and volunteers from different service units
In October, Jockey Club Place for Healthy Ageing - Hong Kong PHAB Association Happy Ageing Hub commenced service.
In November, Jockey Club “Project LEGEND” - Employment Support Project commenced service and provided career training and employment counselling service for the young people with Specific Learning Difficulties.
In June, Hong Kong’s first Inclusive eSports Team was set up. “Inclusive Esports Team Invitational Tournament 2018” was held in October.
In August, Project B.R.I.G.H.T. – Mental Health Counselling & Supporting Service for Youth with Special Educational Needs, sponsored by The Community Chest of Hong Kong, was launched
In April, Life Wish Project – Counselling Service for High Emotional Risk People with Physical Disabilities, sponsored by The Community of Hong Kong, was launched
The redevelopment project of Pokfulam PHAB Camp completed in October. The Camp was renamed as Jockey Club PHAB Camp and resumed full operation in November. The Opening Ceremony of the Redevelopment Camp was held on 16th July 2016, with Mrs. Carrie Lam, GMB, GBS, JP, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Government of HKSAR at that time
In March, Pokfulam PHAB Camp started re-development works under the financial support of Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust
In August, sponsored by The Community Chest of Hong Kong, Youth Dimension was launched to assist youth with special educational needs to develop their career path
In April, STAR Project, sponsored by The Community Chest of Hong Kong, was launched to provide professional counselling and coaching on life transitional planning for youth with disabilities and/or youth with special educational needs
In November, with the sponsorship from Fu Tak Iam Foundation, Hong Kong’s first mobile physiotherapy service, “PHAB Express – Physiotherapy Service on Wheels” was launched
In March, the Association’s first supported hostel for persons with physical and mental disabilities, Unity Place, commenced operation with its opening ceremony held in March of the subsequent year
In April, funded by The Community Chest of Hong Kong, “Project Life Force”, being Hong Kong’s first specialized services for persons with physical disabilities newly discharged from hospitals
In January, PHAB Institute was set up to conduct research studies and develop innovative programme models, with the objective of enhancing the professionalism of PHAB concept
In December, Jockey Club PHAB Fitness Centre, sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, started operation
Starting from January, the Community Support Service specialized in the provision of home-based physiotherapy and rehabilitation training for persons with disabilities in response to the territory-wide re-structuring of community support service conducted by the Social Welfare Department
In March, the Association merged the business of the two social enterprises (Phabulous Marketing Limited and Phabulous Pest Control and Cleaning Limited).
In April, New Territories PHAB Centre commenced operation, expanding the Association’s service to New Territories East. The other 3 PHAB Centres were renamed as Hong Kong Island PHAB Centre, Kowloon East PHAB Centre and Kowloon West PHAB Centre
In January, Social Welfare Department provided additional resources for providing support for hidden elders
In April, the Association was sponsored by The Community Chest of Hong Kong to launch a scheme “Care for the Carers” which provides counselling service for carers of persons with disabilities, a pioneering scheme in Hong Kong
In April, sponsored by Ho Kam Yung Foundation, Home Improvement Scheme was launched to help persons with physical disability to improve their home environment
West Hong PHAB Centre ceased operation. Service area of Hong Kong Island East PHAB Centre covered the all areas in Hong Kong Island
In October, the Association was subsidized by the Social Welfare Department to implement Integrated Employment Assistance Scheme to provide employment support for persons receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance
In December, the 3-year Family-based Respite Service and Holiday Care Service for the Disabled were satisfactorily completed
In April, the early Ambulatory Training Project was expanded into a self –financing Physical Enhancement Centre
In September, the Jockey Club Shatin Integrated Service Centre for Children and Youth started to provide School Social Work Service at HKBU Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary school
In January, sponsored by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Sub-Centre of the Stanley/Shek O Neighbourhood Elderly Centre commenced operation and its opening ceremony was held in July
In September, the Jockey Club Shatin Integrated Service Centre for Children and Youth was sponsored to implement “P.A.T.H.S. to Adulthood: A Jockey Club Youth Enhancement Scheme”
In October, the first PHAB Charity Walk was held
In October, with Community Support Service Unit was formed to implement the three community support projects supported by the Social Welfare Department: “Holiday Care Service for the Disabled”, “Family-based Respite Service” and “Home-based Rehabilitation Training Service”
In October, with subsidies from the Social Welfare Department, the Supported Employment Service Centre implemented the “Sunnyway – On the Job Training Programme for Young People with Disabilities”
In April, the four PHAB Centres were re-structured and the new Project Development Unit was formed, to be responsible for developing new government service projects and the self-financing Physical Enhancement Project of the Association
In May, supported by the Lotteries Fund and the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, Shatin Integrated Service Centre for Youth completed its modernization programme, with its name changed to Jockey Club Shatin Integrated Service Centre for Children and Youth
In September, Jockey Club Shatin Integrated Service Centre for Children and Youth started to provide School Social Work Service at Lam Tai Fai College
In April, due to the revamping of community support service for elders, the Association’s three Social Centres for the Elderly were transformed into two Neighbourhoold Elderly Centres which were renamed as Stanley/Shek O Neighbourhood Elderly Centre and Peng Chau Neighbourhood Elderly cum Children/Youth Centre
In June, the Supported Employment Service Centre moved to its new premises in Wan Tsui Estate
In July, the Association’s first social enterprise, Phabulous Marketing Limited (PML), was set up to provide employment opportunities for persons with disabilities
In October, the Supported Employment Service Centre launched the Intensive Employment Assistance Project, to provide employment assistance service to employable CSSA and near-CSSA recipients
In November, the Association’s second social enterprise, Phabulous Pest Control & Cleaning Limited (PCCL) was set up with capital support from the “Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities Through Small Enterprise Scheme”
In March, with subsidies from the Social Welfare Department, the “Summer Day Care Respite Service for Disabled Children” was expanded into “Holiday Care Service for the Disabled”
In April, the Shatin Children and Youth Centre was revamped to form an Integrated Children and Youth Service Centre to meet service needs
In September, a “Comprehensive Student Guidance Service” was launched for the students of Peng Chau Chi Yan Public School
In October, the Shamshuipo PHAB Centre launched the Ambulatory Training Project for Persons with Physical Disabilities, a pioneer project in the community
Additional resources were given by the Social Welfare Department to enhance the community support service for disabled persons
In October, the Supported Employment Service Centre was supported by the Social Welfare Department to provide “On the Job Training for People with Disabilities”
Shatin Children and Youth Centre started to provide School Social Work Service at TWGHs Yow Kam Yuen College and After School Care Programme
In August, a signing ceremony of the “PHAB Training Programme” with the China Disabled Persons’ Federation was held
In January, the Association’s first elderly centre, Peng Chau Social Centre for the Elderly, commenced operation. Its opening ceremony, held in November, was officiated by Mr. Andrew Leung, J.P., Director of Social Welfare
In March, Stanley Social Centre for the Elderly commenced operation, with opening ceremony officiated by Mr. Tam Yiu Chung, Chairman of the Elderly Commission, in December
In July, the first “Summer Day Care Respite Service for Disabled Children” was launched with sponsorship from outside funding bodies
In October, Peng Chau Social Centre for the Elderly was subvented by the Social Welfare Department to provide children and youth service. The Centre was renamed as Peng Chau Elderly cum Children/Youth Centre
In October, Wun Sha Social Centre for the Elderly commenced operation, with opening ceremony officiated by the Association’s Patron, Mrs. Betty Tung, J.P., in May the following year
In January, the setting up of the Ceramic Workshop to create employment opportunities for persons with physical handicap
In March, the Supported Employment Service Centre was set up with subvention from the Social Welfare Department
In February, Chaiwan PHAB Centre was reprovisioned to Siu Sai Wan Estate and renamed as Hong Kong Island East PHAB Centre
In April, closure of Gregory Library inside East Kowloon PHAB Centre
In December, the multi-purpose hall of the Lady MacLehose Pokfulam PHAB Centre was named as Li Kwan Hung Memorial Hall, in memory of the late Mr. Li Kwan Hung, J.P., Founding Chairman and Honorary President of the Association
The first Raffle Ticket Sale was held
In January, the Shatin Children and Youth Centre started operation with its opening ceremony officiated by Mrs. Rose Goodstadt, J.P., Deputy Director of Social Welfare, held in March the following year
In March, the East Kowloon PHAB Centre was moved to a new premises, with its opening ceremony officiated by Mr. Michael Cartland, J.P., Director of Social Welfare, held in June the following year
In April, setting up of the PHAB Record and Evaluation Unit to conduct a series of researches on PHAB
In February, Lam Tin PHAB Centre was moved to a temporary office in Lower Wong Tai Sin Estate and renamed as East Kowloon PHAB Centre
The first Hong Kong PHAB International Week was organized with participants from all over the world, including Mainland China, Taiwan, Macau, Japan, England, America, Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong
In October, Match-Making Service was launched
Family Life Education Project was launched
An Advisory Group on Sexual and Marital Problems of the Physically Handicapped was formed to provide advisory service to persons with physical handicap
In April, Mr. J.W. Chambers, Director of Social Welfare, officiated the opening of the Shamshuipo PHAB Centre, formerly located at Sheung Li Uk Estate
In February, the Gregory PHAB Library inside the Lam Tin PHAB Centre was officially opened
In April, the Lady MacLehose Pokfulam PHAB Centre was officially opened by the Association Patron, Lady MacLehose
In July, the West Hong Kong PHAB Centre, located inside the Lady MacLehose Pokfulam PHAB Camp, commenced operation
Lam Tin PHAB Centre started operation, with its opening ceremony officiated by the Hon. Thomas Lee, J.P., Director of Social Welfare, in September
On 11th October, the Association was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee
The PHAB Volunteer Group was officially formed
The opening of the Hong Kong Centre in Hing Wah Estate, Chaiwan
In April, the Association started to receive subvention from the Social Welfare Department
In March, the Association held its first Flag Day Appeal
In July, the first PHAB Club, “Hong Kong PHAB Club”, was formed
The Association was given the first 13-seater PHAB van by the Y’s Men’s Club of Hong Kong
The opening of the first PHAB Centre at Sheung Li Uk Estate, Shamshuipo
In October, the Association was approved by the Inland Revenue Department as a charitable institution
On 19th October, the Hong Kong PHAB Association was officially established to promote the PHAB concept in Hong Kong
A PHAB Working Party was set up by the Rehabilitation and the Youth Work Division of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service
Ms. Mary Robinson, representative of U.K. PHAB, visited Hong Kong and promoted the PHAB concept, advocating “Opportunity, Not Pity” for persons with physical disabilities