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To raise public awareness of social enterprises (SEs) and encourage consumption of their products and services, the Home Affairs Department (HAD) will hold a market fair this Saturday (July 24) for seven SEs funded by the department's Enhancing Self-Reliance Through District Partnership Programme.
The market fair will be held from 11am to 6pm at the piazza next to the Hong Kong Museum of Art in Tsim Sha Tsui. Participating SEs will display information and sell various products, including health food and drinks, organic farm products, puddings and snacks, South Asian costumes and painting on hands, as well as photo printing on balloons. In addition, some SEs will demonstrate massage skills and handicrafts on ribbon flowers and knit dolls. Some SEs will also hand out discount coupons. The public are most welcome to join.
The HAD implemented the Enhancing Self-Reliance Through District Partnership Programme in 2006 to provide seed grants to eligible organisations for the initial operations of SE projects. These projects aim to create job opportunities for the underprivileged to enhance their skills and capacities and to upgrade themselves for effective integration into the community.
Since its establishment, the programme has approved under the first seven phases of applications grants totalling about $100 million to some 100 SE projects, creating about 1,600 jobs.
Ends/Thursday, July 22, 2010
Issued at HKT 15:00
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