HIV and AIDS: It’s everybody’s business

The HIV/AIDS pandemic is a global challenge, particularly in regions such as Africa, India and China. Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd., like Crown, has a presence in these markets and many other developing countries of the world, where there are increasing HIV infection rates. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is making a significant impact on these operations and the communities where both Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd. and Crown operate.

Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd. has responded to this challenge through their “Living with HIV programme” a global policy aimed at educating one million people about HIV/AIDS by 2010. They have developed a workplace education model that has been rolled out to their employees, customers and suppliers, and they have invited Crown to become involved in their efforts.

Jim Thompson, Crown Worldwide Chairman, supports this cause, saying: "We have all known about the AIDS epidemic for years but many of us are not aware of just how devastating it has been to the people of the under-developed countries of the world. However, we also know that the work that has been done through educating people about the prevention of the spread of AIDS has had a positive effect. The situation is no longer hopeless. If we can help people to understand what AIDS/HIV is and how it can be prevented, we can reverse the spread and one day we can overcome this terrible disease."

Crown is proud to announce that we have volunteered to be one of Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd. partners in the "Living with HIV programme." The programme entails identifying employees who will serve as "Champions and Ambassadors" of the cause, taking the message out internally as well as through community activities and volunteering. The programme aims to help eradicate the stigma of HIV/AIDS which prevents people from getting tested and thus contributes to its spread, by:

• Raising awareness with employees through training.
• Driving participation in Crown and Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd. sponsored community events to educate local people about the prevention and treatment of HIV.
• Sharing knowledge with our families, the community and other Service Partners.

Crown group vice president of Records Management Philip Britton, regional manager of HRD and strategy for Asia Pacific Debbie Mannas and executive assistant Veronica Chan who are all based in Crown’s holdings office in Hong Kong will be leading this initiative. These three Crown employees have already spent a Saturday at an Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd. workshop and were trained as HIV/AIDS Awareness Champions. Mima Grayson, based in London, has also been identified as one of Crown’s champions, coordinating efforts throughout the UK. Throughout 2008, the Crown team will seek volunteers to be trained as AIDS awareness Champions and volunteers to help drive this through the Crown network.

To kickstart this programme, Crown held a one-day "Living with HIV Workshop" for the staff at Holdings on December 15, at the Crown Wine Cellars.

Jim added, "I’m truly proud that the staff of the Crown Group at the Holdings office have taken the initiative to partner with Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd.’s AIDS awareness programme ’Living with Aids’ to educate themselves about this terrible problem. We must all understand what we can do as individuals to help and by starting here in Hong Kong, the staff are showing just how Crown will be doing its part."