*****************************************
With Christmas and New Year approaching, have you considered buying meaningful gifts for your relatives and friends? The Home Affairs Department (HAD) will arrange for social enterprises (SEs) sponsored by the Enhancing Self-Reliance Through District Partnership Programme (ESR Programme) to exhibit at the upcoming Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo (HKBPE). Members of the public can visit the event and support caring consumption.
The 47th HKBPE will be held in Victoria Park, Causeway Bay, from Saturday (December 15) to January 7. Fifteen SEs will take turns to participate in the 47th HKBPE at the complimentary booths once again offered by the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong to the HAD. Visitors will be able to find different types of SEs and support underprivileged people who wish to stay self-reliant.
The designated Social Enterprise Zone covers booths Nos. 4A01 to 4A05 in the venue. The participating SEs will offer a variety of products and services, including healthy food and drinks, organic farm products, accessories and handicrafts, household items, bicycle gear, eco-friendly products and massage services. Some SEs will give out coupons on-site, or provide demonstrations of sewing, lip balm making and ethnic hand painting. Please refer to the Annex for details.
Since 2006, the ESR Programme has been providing seed money for non-profit-making organisations to set up SEs, which in turn provides job opportunities for the socially disadvantaged to enhance their skills and capabilities for effective integration into society.
Total funding of about $150 million has been approved in 12 phases to help in the start-up of around 140 SEs since the implementation of the ESR Programme. The SEs cover a wide range of trades and industries, including catering and retailing, personal care and domestic services, environmentally friendly products, business supporting services and ecotourism. More than 2 300 jobs have been created for the socially disadvantaged as a result.
The opening hours of the 47th HKBPE will be from 11am to 10pm, and the Expo will open until 8pm on the last day of exhibition. Members of the public can purchase admission tickets at $10 each. Children 1 metre tall or below, senior citizens aged 65 or above and persons with disabilities will be admitted free of charge.
Ends/Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Issued at HKT 15:00
NNNN
