Hong Kong philanthropist Kitty Szeto Kit, who led several charity groups in the city, has died aged 92.
Family members confirmed on Wednesday that Szeto died of natural causes on July 15.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu led the tributes to Szeto and said she was a hugely respected philanthropist who dedicated her life to public welfare and made an outstanding contribution to charity work.
Lee said he “deeply mourned” the death of Szeto.
“Her noble virtues, compassion and selfless dedication make her a social role model worthy of admiration and emulation,” he added.
Szeto married construction tycoon Siu Hon-sum in 1950. He died in 2014.
She developed new initiatives in education, women’s and children’s services and other areas with her leadership of social services charity Po Leung Kuk, Hong Kong’s Community Chest and the Hong Kong Chinese Women’s Club.
She also raised funds for charity, which helped provide kindness and relief to countless individuals from all walks of life.
Szeto was tireless in her charitable work and relentless in her self-improvement as she believed that the elderly should be involved in lifelong learning and keep pace with the times.
“Not many mums can be as amazing as her to do so much charity work for Hong Kong and for the Po Leung Kuk children,” Sophia Yap, a family friend and volunteer with Szeto, said.
“She was a cool and fun lady and I enjoyed photographing her. We’ll miss her dearly.”
Szeto was a pioneer in education for the elderly in Hong Kong and set up the University of 3rd Age (U3A) Network of Hong Kong in 2006 to help older people make the most of their golden years.
The network, funded by the HK Electric Centenary Trust and administered by the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, covers 34 elderly centres and encourages retired people to pursue lifelong learning and contribute to the community through voluntary work.
The network, upholding the “learning for pleasure” principle, operates independently of accreditation, assessment and offers no formal qualifications.
It instead promotes interest-based and self-directed learning, and the courses are organised and run by older people for their contemporaries.
Hong Kong Sheng Kung Hui St Mary’s Church, Tai Hang Road, Causeway Bay, posted an obituary and said Szeto’s funeral service would be held at the church on July 30.
