Harmony House 40th Anniversary - Healing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Better Parenting for Child Protection successfully concluded on 25 November 2025. The event attracted 218 participants from the Social Welfare Department, NGOs, academic institutions, private practitioners, and the general public, creating a vibrant atmosphere of engagement and exchange.
We were honored to have Mr. HO Kai-ming, JP, Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, as our officiating guest. He emphasized the government's determination and the importance of collaboration in protecting children and breaking the cycle of family violence. We also extend our gratitude to Prof. CHEUNG Yan Leung, Stephen, President of Saint Francis University, for delivering the welcome address, highlighting the significance of academia and the community working hand in hand to promote trauma-informed practices.
The symposium featured several distinguished speakers. Professor KIM Jee Hyun from Deakin University shared insights on transforming childhood adversity into resilience and explored the relationship between stress neurobiology and parenting approaches. Professor CHAN Ko-ling. Edward, from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University introduced an innovative research framework supported by scientific data to help professionals identify high-risk families and intervene early, inspiring a rethinking of current intervention strategies. Dr. MANN Ka-fai, Stephen, explained psychodynamic therapy in an accessible manner and proposed practical strategies for repairing parent-child relationships. Professor LI Ka-wai from The University of Hong Kong presented Hong Kong's first representative ACEs study, sparking deep reflections on cultural differences and inspiring early intervention and service innovation. Dr. WAN Ho-yin from The University of Hong Kong demonstrated mindfulness and self-compassion techniques, which participants found highly effective in reducing caregiving stress. Finally, Ms. PANG Kit-ling shared her personal journey of recovery and hope, deeply moving the audience.
Post-event surveys revealed that over 94% of participants agreed the content met their expectations, and 97.6% were satisfied with the overall flow of the event. Attendees highly praised the professionalism and expertise of the speakers.
This symposium was a resounding success, marking an important step forward in promoting child protection and trauma-informed practices. We sincerely thank all speakers, partners, volunteers, and colleagues for their dedication and support!
