Li's gift to frontline workers and helpers

Billionaire Li Ka-shing is treating some 26,000 medics, foreign domestic helpers and welfare groups in Hong Kong to free ferris wheel rides and games during the Lunar New Year at the Hong Kong Observation Wheel.

The announcement was made on Li Ka Shing Foundation's Facebook page yesterday.

"Mr Li was aware of the Lunar New Year festive event in Central has started (recently, seeing it from his window) from his office, and therefore reached out to the organizer, to sponsor medical workers who protect Hong Kong during the pandemic, and foreign domestic helpers who serve Hong Kong, as well as welfare groups," the post read.

The foundation said taking care of people's physical and psychological health are precious gifts.

People left comments, thanking the tycoon for the good deed. "I want to thank Mr Li's warm behavior on behalf of the foreign domestic helper in my home," a woman commented.

It is understood that the free ferris wheel tickets and game tokens will be given to about 8,000 foreign domestic helpers through a support group to enjoy free rides on February 12.

Around 8,000 medical workers will be given tickets through the Hospital Authority to visit anytime until February 10. The rest of the 10,000 tickets will be given to the Hong Kong Council of Social Service for families on February 11.

The festive event opened on Saturday and will run until February 12. Operating hours are between 11am and 11pm every day.

According to the event's ticketing website, advance online tickets are priced from HK$128 for single entry plus 10 tokens on off-peak hours, to HK$610 for a family combo for four with 48 tokens at peak hours.