Passing on the Love One Received

Ms Lam Kam-ching knows well about the loneliness of being abandoned. Being an orphan since childhood, she suffered from chronic illness and had been hospitalized for six months at the age of eight - with no visitors at all. The lengthy treatment would have been unbearable, if not for the care and concern of her doctors and nurses. Since then, she determined to put in all efforts to help others, especially those being abandoned.

 

She started her voluntary works since 1970s and have joined the Auxiliary Medical Service, visited drug addicts and cancer patients. In 1990, she joined the Prisoners' Friends' Association, and has become a volunteer prison visitor ever since.

 

Persistent Care and Concern

She believes that persons in custody should have learnt tough lessons. If without others' caring, or even being abandoned by their own families, they will easily give up themselves. "They would have none to turn to, if even visitors like me also abandon them. I always believe that my patience can help motivate them."

 

For 25 years, she has been devoted in visiting persons in custody who had had no visitors - most serving long-term or life imprisonment. During her person-to-person visits, Ms Lam not only brings care and love to the persons in custody, but also encourages them to plan for the future. Despite facing cold-shoulder and skepticism from most persons in custody, she never gives up. Over time, her persistence and care always enable her to gain the trust of her inmate-friends. Being motivated by her sincerity, some inmates have resumed their studies, and most have behaviour improved in correctional institutions.

At her peak, she could visit eight persons in custody daily, nine-to-five, for 8 to 15 days a month. Even at times of bad weather or she herself being under the weather, she still persisted in enduring the long journey to correctional institutions, most in rural areas or off-shore islands - to keep her promises.

She has also donated the cash prize awarded for her humanitarian volunteering work to the Prisoners' Education Trust Fund of the Hong Kong Correctional Services.

Ms Lam determines to continue her voluntary visits throughout her lifetime. Treating the inmate-friends as her own children, she always looks forward to the days of their release for turning their new pages.