Ice Bucket Challenge comes to BPA

BPA Council Chairman Dr Peter Lam, BPA Chairman Andrew Leung and BPA Vice Chairman Jeffrey Lam won rounds of applause by taking on the Ice Bucket Challenge.

The Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong (BPA) says “Bring it on!” to the Ice Bucket Challenge, the global campaign to raise funding for patients suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Tourism Board Chairman and BPA Council Chairman, Dr Peter Lam Kin-ngok, today (August 22) invited BPA Chairman, Mr Andrew Leung Kwan-yuen, and BPA Vice Chairman, Mr Jeffrey Lam kin-fung, to take on the Ice Bucket Challenge together!

Dr Lam, who had been nominated by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So Kam-leung, to take on the challenge, thanked Mr So for offering him the opportunity to participate in the charitable event. Dr Lam also took the opportunity to remind Mr So of the need to give the tourism and retail industries a helping hand as companies were in danger of entering into the equivalent of an ice age.

The Ice Bucket Challenge allows people who have completed the challenge to nominate three others to do the same. Dr Lam nominated Mr Henry Tang Ying-yen, Standing Committee Member of the CPPCC, Mr Irons Sze, President of the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, and actor Mr Eric Tsang Chi-wai to take on the challenge.

“Henry is relieved of his official duties and should spend more time on charity work. Irons has done a lot of work on the ‘Anti Occupy Central’ campaign, it’s time for him to do some charity work too; and only a few people in show business are shorter than me and Eric is one of them!” Dr Lam said.

Mr Andrew Leung challenged Ms Emily Lau Wai-hing, Chairwoman of the Democratic Party, Mr Alan Leong Kah-kit, Leader of Civic Party, and Mr Frederick Fung Kin-kee, Convener of the pan-democrats’ “lunchbox” meetings. “Although these are critical times for Hong Kong, the pan-democrats should put themselves in the shoes and be concerned about the plight of ALS patients rather than put all their attention and energies into one single issue. Dousing icy water on heads can help cool minds, which is good for Hong Kong,” said Mr Andrew Leung.

In addition, Mr Jeffrey Lam called out the three co-founders of “Occupy Central”, Dr Chan Kin-man, Dr Benny Tai Yiu-ting and Reverend Chu Yiu-ming. Mr Lam said, “Today, we’re in Central, the business and financial centre of Hong Kong. BPA’s ideal is for Hong Kong’s economy to prosper and grow. However, this is now under the threat of fire from ‘Occupy Central’. I challenge the three co-founders of ‘Occupy Central’ and hope the ice water can help put out the fire so that Hong Kong remains peaceful and stable, and society can go about its business as usual.”

“We don’t want to flash you!” Dr Lam joked in reference to the protective clothing donned by the three. Mr Lam pointed out that despite the extra layer of outer wear these were not enough to prevent them from getting wet and cold.

After completing the challenge, Dr Lam donated US$300 to the ALS Association in the US and HK$30,000 to the Hong Kong Neuro-Muscular Disease Association. Mr Leung and Mr Lam will each donate US$100 to the ALS Association in the US and HK$5,000 to the Hong Kong Neuro-Muscular Disease Association.