Boost for social enterprise aims

英文虎報 2007-02-02

District-based social enterprise geared toward fighting poverty is to be given a lift if Donald Tsang is re-elected chief executive.

Tsang's election platform also aims to revitalize the social welfare sector, with an emphasis on reviewing the sector's planning and long-term development strategy.

Under an action plan, entitled ``Building a New Hong Kong: Creating Quality Life Together,'' Tsang vowed to lead the ``Social Enterprise Summit on Fighting Poverty,'' which will outline an agenda for district-based social enterprises which will create more employment opportunities.
Private enterprises will be mobilized to provide voluntary legal, accounting and management skills training to assist in the operation of social enterprises in several districts, such as Tin Shui Wai, Wong Tai Sin and Sham Shui Po, where the unemployment rate is set to surge to 7 percent.
The government could also collaborate with businesses to help the unemployed find work and enhance social harmony by injecting new energy into social enterprises, Tsang said.

The chief executive reiterated that he will review the wage protection movement should the results of the scheme be unsatisfactory, and he is also prepared to introduce legislation on a minimum wage.

A social enterprise is defined as a profit-making entity that, besides providing goods and services, undertakes a social mission, such as helping dole recipients to be less reliant on the government, and boosting employment for the disabled.

Tsang said Britain's FRC Group - one of the best known social business groups in the country - is a good learning example for Hong Kong.

Legislator Frederick Fung Kin-kee of the Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood welcomed the main goal of social enterprises, saying they provide a vital means of solving unemployment at the district level. But he warned they were not the ultimate solution for the widening poverty gap.

He suggested the next government provide low-interest loans for social enterprises to come up with an adequate amount of capital and cash flow.

Tax and rental discounts for operators at the government's vacant wet markets could also help these enterprises survive, he said.

Fung further suggested the next government outsource 10 percent of its contracts to social enterprises for a limited period to give them an initial boost.

Tsang also pledged to review social welfare planning, enhance the long-term welfare development strategy and improve services to the disabled, single- parent families and the elderly.

He would also offer more resources to establish a Children's Development Fund to support children from low- income families.
The chief executive of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, Christine Fang Meng-sang, who is also a member of the government's Social Welfare Advisory Committee, said that since the handover, the social welfare sector has been missing out on a long- term development plan, which has given rise to many problems.

``I hope his action plan can be more comprehensive, taking into consideration Hong Kong's rapidly aging population. Areas like long-term care needs, health-care financing and income protection for the elderly should be looked into as a whole package,'' she said.