**********************************************************
The Home Affairs Bureau (HAB) and the Social Enterprise Advisory Committee (SEAC) announced today (November 10) that eight social enterprises (SEs) will receive the Outstanding Social Enterprise Award 2011 and three Outstanding Friends of Social Enterprise have been selected. Details are as follows:
2011 Outstanding Social Enterprises
(in alphabetical order)
-----------------------------------
CookEasy
Dialogue in the Dark HK Limited
Easy Home Services
Fullness Christian Social Enterprise Limited
Gingko House
iBakery
Personal Emergency Link
Tai Kok Tsui Mrs. Mc
2011 Outstanding Friends of Social Enterprise
(in alphabetical order)
---------------------------------------------
CSL Limited
iBakery Angels
The Hongkong and China Gas Co. Ltd.
The Secretary for Home Affairs and Chairman of the SEAC, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, said the overwhelming response from different sectors of the community to the two schemes is encouraging. The Government will continue to work in collaboration with the SEAC to further promote the sustainable development of SEs.
"We also thank the selection panel members for their active participation in the selection process," Mr Tsang added.
The HAB and SEAC launched the Social Enterprise Award Scheme (the Award Scheme) and the Be a Friend to Social Enterprise campaign (the Campaign) for the first time in August 2011. The Award Scheme aims to give recognition to successful SEs which operate and create social impact in Hong Kong, with a view to encouraging them as well as other SEs to provide needed services for the community through entrepreneurial thinking and innovative approaches. The Campaign gives recognition to organisations or individuals which/who have provided support to SEs in order to enhance public awareness of SEs and to solicit more public support to the SE sector.
Under the Award Scheme, the selection panel comprising representatives from non-governmental organisations, business and academic sectors as well as government departments paid site visits and conducted interviews with shortlisted SEs. Assessment was made based on the social impact, business performance, financial situation, innovation, presentation at the interviews as well as the physical environment of the SEs. Under the Campaign, shortlisted candidates were interviewed by a selection panel comprising representatives experienced in the field of corporate social responsibility and human resources management, as well as representative of Government. Assessment was made based on the nature and innovation of the support provided to SEs, the demonstration effect of the partnership as well as benefits to the SE partners, and so on.
In the coming weeks, publicity will be heightened on the success stories of the SE awardees as well as the partnership between the Outstanding Friends of SEs and the SEs concerned in order to enable the public to better understand and support SE development. An award presentation ceremony will be held on November 25 at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. At the same venue, the HAB and SEAC will organise an SE Bazaar from November 25 to 27. Members of the public are welcome to join the bazaar free of charge.
Ends/Thursday, November 10, 2011
Issued at HKT 15:46
NNNN