I write to appeal to you all to make donations to the We Care Education Fund which has been set up today for the children of deceased SARS patients.

The fund will be administered by the Director of Social Welfare as trustee and will be used for the education and living expenses of the children of deceased SARS patients.

To date, 24 children from 13 families have lost either or both of their parents in the outbreak. This number is likely to increase.

The fund will ensure that the education needs of these children will be addressed immediately as well as in the long term.

You can access the details of the fund by visiting our homepage or calling the Social Welfare Department hotline 2343 2255.

I am grateful to Carrie Lam, Fanny Law, Shelley Lee and Dr Margaret Chan for initiating this worthwhile project and for starting the donation appeal. We are writing to department heads and civil service associations to ask them to support this fund-raising campaign.

I urge you to indicate your support by making a donation through your department, by cheque (payable to We Care Education Fund) to the department or by a direct payment to any HSBC branch (Account No. 048-422299-001). Donations to the Fund exceeding $100 are tax deductible.

Many sectors of the community are mobilising their members to support the medical workers fighting SARS as well as the unfortunate families affected by the disease.

The civil service is one of the most active and caring sectors of the Hong Kong community. Let us demonstrate our commitment not just by doing our duties relentlessly but also through supporting worthwhile projects, such as the one initiated by our colleagues.

Children are our future. Please make a donation to the We Care Education Fund.

(This is the letter issued by Secretary for the Civil Service Joseph Wong on May 2, appealing to all civil servants to make donations to the We Care Education Fund)