2004 News Releases

Hong Kong– “The magic is working…what an adventure!” said one of the characters in the book — and the magic certainly worked on some 20 children at the Manulife Centre for Children with Specific Learning Disabilities. Michael Huddart, the General Manager of Manulife Hong Kong, was reading to them from Pirate Adventure. Mr. Huddart was visiting the Centre to take part in the “Literacy and Reading Program for At-Risk and Delayed Readers” Training Camp as a guest storyteller. The three-day Camp aims to help Cantonese-speaking children who have difficulty in literacy development to learn how to read and write.

He also met with Timothy Leung, a secondary year-two student who once had a learning disability himself and overcame the barrier to become a volunteer at the Centre. For three years now, Timothy has been a “tutor” at the Day Camp, acting as a “big brother” to help the participating children in reading and writing, and encouraging them to develop their potential to the full.

“I am delighted to be part of this meaningful program,” said Mr. Huddart “It is indeed encouraging to get to know Timothy. He is an inspiration to most of the Centre’s children and an example of the effectiveness of the Manulife Centre, where Dr. Alice Lai, the Person-in-charge, and her team are doing a tremendous job.”

“We are pleased to have partnered with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Nursing in setting up such a locally acknowledged centre for the development of children with special learning disabilities,” added Mr. Huddart.

Each year, the Manulife Centre conducts Training Day Camps during the Easter, summer and Christmas holidays to improve and enhance children’s learning ability in reading and writing. More than 1,000 children have taken part in these training camps over the last three years.

It also holds free open seminars in each quarter to share with parents and teachers some advanced practices in helping children who have specific learning needs.

About Manulife Charitable Foundation
The Manulife Charitable Foundation is a non-profit organization set up by Manulife (International) Limited in 1998 to support and promote educational, health and charitable activities for the betterment of public welfare in Hong Kong. It has sponsored the Manulife Centre for Children with Specific Learning Disabilities since 1999 with a mandate to assist children with specific learning difficulties, and their parents and teachers, by studying how to identify children in need of assistance and help them develop to their full potential.

About Manulife (International) Limited
Manulife (International) Limited is a member of the Manulife Financial group of companies. Manulife Financial is a leading Canadian-based financial services group operating in 15 countries and territories worldwide. Through its extensive network of employees, agents and distribution partners, Manulife Financial offers clients a diverse range of financial protection products and wealth management services. Funds under management by Manulife Financial were Cdn$156.7 billion (approximately HK$941.2 billion) as at December 31, 2003.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as ‘MFC’ on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under ‘0945’ on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at www.manulife.com.

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Michael Huddart was well-liked by the students and staff at Manulife Centre.

For more information, please contact:
Helena Lee / Jeanie Ho
Manulife (International) Limited
Tel: 2202 1050 / 2510 3191
Fax: 2234 6875
Email: helena_lee@manulife.com
jeanie_ho@manulife.com