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Decade-long cross-sectoral SC.Net builds social capital networks for sustainable community development (with photos)
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     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, attended a gathering and appointment ceremony of SC.Net members of the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF) today (January 30). He encouraged members from various sectors to contribute their own specialties to raise the effectiveness of social capital development projects and build a community with mutual support and sustainable development.

     Established in 2008, SC.Net aims to engage enthusiastic persons from different sectors to tap their knowledge, experience and networks in developing social capital for a more caring Hong Kong. Dr Law expressed his thanks to 21 new members and presented certificates of appointment at the ceremony, bringing the cumulative total of SC.Net members to 194.

     Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Law described his long-term connection with the CIIF including his participation in research in early years on social capital development projects funded by the CIIF to review the effectiveness of social capital. He added that most projects were found to be effective in promoting intergenerational and cross-sectoral collaboration, engaging community members of different socio-economic status to know each other and then serve society through their network or co-operation.

     The CIIF has been facilitating collaboration among welfare organisations, district groups, medical institutions, schools and businesses to encourage the public to build social networks with mutual support, he said. The CIIF projects foster diversified ways of collaboration. For example, welfare organisations worked with the Hong Kong Housing Society and the Hong Kong Housing Authority to encourage residents of housing estates to care for their neighbours. Schools joined hands with various sectors to open up campuses to support community needs. Social welfare organisations linked up with healthcare and district groups to support the elderly, chronic patients and their carers. The Hong Kong Quality Assurance Agency partnered with enterprises to cultivate corporate social capital. These projects have promoted the sustainable development of the community.

     Also attending the ceremony, the Chairman of the CIIF Committee, Dr Lam Ching-choi, said that the fund aims at putting the concept of social capital into the mainstream. For example, cross-sectoral meetings have been lined up for CIIF project teams to explore partnership with enterprises.

     SC.Net members newly appointed today came from the business, medical, public/community service, cultural/media, academic/education and social welfare sectors. They had group discussions with senior members at the ceremony on how to develop social capital in the community.

     The CIIF has so far allocated $493 million to fund 351 social capital development projects across all districts in Hong Kong in which over 680 000 people participated. In addition, some 8 900 collaborating partners joined the projects, forming about 2 000 mutual support networks in the community.
 
Ends/Tuesday, January 30, 2018
Issued at HKT 18:25
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The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, attended a gathering and appointment ceremony of SC.Net members of the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund today (January 30). Photo shows Dr Law addressing the ceremony.
The Community Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF) held a gathering and appointment ceremony for SC.Net members today (January 30). Photo shows the Chairman of the CIIF Committee, Dr Lam Ching-choi, giving welcoming remarks at the ceremony.
The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, attended a gathering and appointment ceremony of SC.Net members of the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF) today (January 30). Photo shows Dr Law (first row, third left) and the Chairman of the CIIF Committee, Dr Lam Ching-choi (first row, fourth left), with members of the CIIF Committee and newly appointed SC.Net members.
The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, attended a gathering and appointment ceremony of SC.Net members of the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF) today (January 30). Photo shows Dr Law (second row, centre) and the Chairman of the CIIF Committee, Dr Lam Ching-choi (second row, eighth right), with all participants.