Caritas Hong Kong Caritas was founded in July 1953 by the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong. The primary purpose of its establishment was to offer relief and rehabilitation services to the poor and the distressed, with the aim of addressing some of the social hardships and inequalities in Hong Kong resulting from the Second World War and subsequent social and political changes at the time. Caritas Hong Kong is a member of Caritas Internationalis, a federation of 154 Caritas organizations operating in 196 countries throughout the world. Each Caritas organization is committed to a united world without poverty, societies without divisions, equality among communities and a civilisation of love and solidarity.