Yip’s Chemical Holdings Ltd, an acetate solvent manufacturer, donated a HK$2 million mobile eye surgery center to Shandong province on Wednesday at the start of its 10-year corporate social responsibility program.

The program, in partnership with the China Disabled Persons Federation and Asian Foundation for the Prevention of Blindness, will help restore sight to cataract patients in remote areas of China.

Yip’s Chemical will donate at least 10 mobile eye surgery centers with advanced ophthalmological equipment to 10 provinces, including Shandong, Yunnan, Shanxi and Inner Mongolia.

"The mobile eye surgery center, called Vision Restoration Center No 4, is expected to provide free cure to about 2,000 cataract patients, especially those living in remote areas, in six poverty-stricken counties of the province,” said Robert Young, executive director of Yip’s Chemical.

"Yip’s Chemical’s business in China has been witnessing robust growth in recent years. Adhering to the motto of “what comes from the community is to be used for community”, we hope that the mobile eye surgery center will help restore the sight of poor cataract patients and bring bright hope to them,” he added.

To support the charity initiatives, the company has formed volunteer teams to promote knowledge and education about blindness prevention, as well as training for medical staff.

Since 2006, Yip’s Chemical has sponsored several Hope School projects in poor regions in Yunnan, Sichuan and Xizang provinces. In 2007, Yip’s Foundation donated about HK$4 million to Haven of Hope Christian Service and Children’s Heart Foundation.

Yip’s Chemical, established in 1971, is based in Hong Kong and has a nationwide sales network covering every major Chinese province and city. Its products are sold under six brands, including Bauhinia paints, Bauhinia Variegata for inks, and Da Chang resins.

By Wang Qian (China Daily Shandong Bureau)