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The Home Affairs Department (HAD) will arrange for 16 social enterprises (SEs) sponsored by the "Enhancing Self-Reliance Through District Partnership Programme" (ESR Programme) to take turns to exhibit at the 45th Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo (HKBPE), from December 11, 2010 (Saturday) to January 3, 2011.
The public are invited to visit the "Social Enterprise Zone" during the exhibition period, to show support for the underprivileged and assist them in becoming self-reliant.
Starting from 2007, HKBPE has been offering HAD free booths every year for SEs under the ESR Programme to showcase their services and products. With the Expo as a platform for SEs to reach out to a wider community, HAD hopes to enhance public awareness of SEs and appeal to them to support their products and services.
Compared with previous years, more SEs are to participate in this year's Expo, and they will provide a wider range of products and services, including health food and drinks, organic farm products, accessories and gifts, household items and information technology products. In addition to putting on sale products and services, some SEs will give out coupons, provide massage services or demonstrate product usage on site.
The 16 participating SEs will be divided into three groups to take part in the Expo at booths No 3A17 to 3A21. Please refer to Annex for details of the exposition schedule.
The ESR Programme has been providing seed money for non-profit making organisations to set up social enterprises, which in turn provide opportunities for the underprivileged to enhance their skills and capabilities for effective integration into society.
A total funding of about $110 million has been approved in eight phases since the programme was set up in 2006. More than 100 social enterprises have been set up. They cover a wide range of trades and industries, including services for the elderly, catering and retailing, environmental-friendly products and eco-tourism.
The 45th Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo will be held at the Victoria Park in Causeway Bay. The Expo is open from 11am to 10pm and the opening hours on December 31 will be extended to 1am the next morning. Admission fee is $10. Children below one metre tall, persons with disabilities and elderly aged 65 or above will be admitted free of charge.
Ends/Thursday, December 9, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:00
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