The Caring Company Scheme is turning into its 18th year. We are delighted to announce that over 4,000 companies have been awarded this year which increased 3.3% over last year. This record-breaking number is so encouraging in such a difficult year and exemplifies the caring spirit in Hong Kong.

The Caring Company Scheme Award Presentation 2019/20 cum Anti-epidemic Campaign Reception was held on 11 Jun 2020 at the Auditorium of Duke of Windsor Social Service Building. We were delighted to have the Honorable Mr. Paul CHAN Mo-po, Financial Secretary, the Government of the HKSAR to be our Officiating Guest, and pleased to have Mr Gordon LEUNG, Director of Social Welfare, Social Welfare Department, the Government of the HKSAR to join us. The Reception not just to award the winners of the Outstanding Partnership Project Award, but also to express our thankfulness to partners who have rendered support to the needy community under the pandemic.

Mr. Paul CHAN Mo-po (3rd from the left, first row), Mr. Gordon LEUNG (3rd from the right), Mr. Bernard CHAN (2nd from the left) and Mr. CHUA Hoi Wai (2nd from the right), and the corporate and NGO partners.

The three groups of outstanding partnership awardees responded to critical social challenges in flexible ways. Their programmes align with government policies in poverty alleviation, community development and youth employment.

The Outstanding Partnership Project 2019/20

Do Good ~ Caring Action
– Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited
– Bo Charity Foundation Limited
– Sik Sik Yuen
– Society for Community Organization

NWS Career Navigator For Youth
– NWS Holdings Limited
– Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association
– Po Leung Kuk
– 10 secondary schools in Tsuen Wan u0026amp; Kwai Ching district

The Outstanding Partnership Project 2019/20 – Certificate of Merit

Neighbourhood Kitchen
– Grosvenor Limited
– Caritas – Hong Kong

For video highlight, please click here.

u0026nbsp;

There are more and more discussions on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in town. Implementing CSR is not just one or a few actions or policy change. In fact, it starts from the belief of the senior management, like considering social benefits when running business, and be responsible for the stakeholders, and then spread it out to staff and service users. With efforts from different levels of the corporate, a harmonious society will be built.

Starting from August, four leaders’ forums named u0022Corporate Social Responsibility – The New Drive for Hong Kongu0022 will be held with government officials and business leaders to share their viewpoints and experience on CSR. It aims at putting a footnote for this new movement in HK, and facilitating the implementation of CSR in different sectors. The 1st forum was held on 9 August. Dr York Chow (Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food), Dr The Honorable David K P LI (Chairman and Chief Executive, The Bank of East Asia), Mr David Eldon (Chairman, Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce), Mr C K Chow (Chief Executive Officer, MTR Corporation), together with Ms Christine Fang and facilitator Dr CK Lo, shared their fruitful viewpoints regarding various CSR topics like Family Friendly Policy and Environmental Protection. (Photo Album of the 1st Forum, Related News)

The 2nd forum was held on 11 August, The Hon Bernard Chan (Member of the Executive Council and Legislative Council), Mr Ronald Arculli (Member of the Executive Council), Mr Matthew Cheung (Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour), Ms Ann Chiang (Chairman of C u0026amp; L Holdings Ltd), together with Ms Christine Fang (Chief Executive of HKCSS) and facilitator Mr. CK Lau, shared their views on the economic and social development in HK, human resource enhancement and employment of the deprived groups from the perspective of Corporate Social Responsibility. (Photo Album of the 2nd Forum, Related News)

The 3rd forum was held on 17 August. Guests included Mr T C Chan (Country Officer, Hong Kong and Head of Greater China, Corporate and Investment Banking of Citigroup), Professor Edward K Y Chen (President of Lingnan University), Ms Sandra Lee (Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food (Health and Welfare) and Mr Moses Cheng (Senior Partner of P.C. Woo u0026amp; Co). Mr K C Shek from Hong Kong Economic Times was the facilitator. All guests and Ms Christine Fang discussed about how large multinational buyers and SMEs implement on Corporate Social Responsibility. (Photo Album of the 3rd Forum, Related News)

The 4th forum was held on 20 September. Guests invited: Mr Frederick Ma (Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury), Mrs Selina Chow (Member of The Executive Council), Mr Shih Wing Ching (Chairman of Centaline (Holdings) Company Limited) and Mr Peter T.C. Lee (Chairman of Hysan Development Company Ltd.). The Hon Bernard Chan (Chairman of HKCSS) was the facilitator of the forum. (Photo Album of the 4th Forum, Related News)

The forums were featured in SCMP, and the u0022CSR Pulseu0022 Magazine which was distributed through HK Economic Times insertion from 31 August (alternate Thursdays for 4 issues).

Media support by Hong Kong Economic Times, South China Morning Post and i-Cable (Cable Finance Info Channel)

u0022CSR Pulseu0022 Magazine
Issue 1: 31 Aug 2006, Issue 2: 14 Sep 2006, Issue 3: 28 Sep 2006, Issue 4: 12 Oct 2006

Guests of each forum

Dr York Chow (Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food)
Dr The Honorable David K P LI (Chairman and Chief Executive, The Bank of East Asia)
Mr David Eldon (Chairman, Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce)
Mr Bernard Chan (Member of the Executive Council, Government of HKSAR)
Mr Bernard Chan (Member of the Executive Council, Government of HKSAR)
Mr Ronald Arculli (Member of the Executive Council, Government of HKSAR)
Mr Matthew Cheung (Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour)
Ms Ann Chiang (Chairman of C u0026amp; L Holdings Ltd)
Mr T C Chan (Country Officer, Hong Kong and Head of Greater China, Corporate and Investment Banking of Citigroup)
Professor Edward K Y Chen (President of Lingnan University)
Ms Sandra Lee (Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food (Health and Welfare)
Mr Moses Cheng (Senior Partner of P.C. Woo u0026amp; Co)
Mrs Selina Chow (Member of The Executive Council)
Mr Shih Wing Ching (Chairman of Centaline (Holdings) Company Limited)
Mr Peter T.C. Lee (Chairman of Hysan Development Company Ltd.)
Mr Frederick Ma (Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury)
Ms Christine Fang (Chief Executive, The Hong Kong Council of Social Service)
Dr CK Lo, Facilitator of the forum
Mr CK Lau, Facilitator of the forum
Mr K C Shek, Facilitator of the forum

To facilitate the partnership among the business, public and social service sectors, the Caring Company Scheme organised a Seminar on Building Successful Partnership cum Partnership Casebook Release on 11 August 2006. More than 200 participants from the business and social service sectors joined the seminar.

Ms Ann Hon, Assistant Director (Subventions) of Social Welfare Department, had been invited to be the Guest of Honor to officiate the ceremony of the new release of the partnership casebook with Ms Christine Fang, Chief Executive of HKCSS. Besides, the winners of Outstanding Partnership Project Award Year 2005/06 and their social service partners shared the successful factors of their awarded projects. Through the seminar, the participants were able to know more about the key success factors of creating social service partnerships and to make friends with different sectors for more partnering opportunities.

The showcase projects included:
1. CLP Power Hong Kong Ltd and The Salvation Army
2. Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals
3. The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited and Hong Chi Association
4. Jones Lang LaSalle Management Services Limited and Tung Wah Group of Hospitals
5. Natural Hair Treatment Centre Co Ltd and The Salvation Army

More than 200 participants from the business and social service sectors joined the seminar

Ms Ann Hon, Assistant Director (Subventions) of Social Service Department and Ms Christine Fang, Chief Executive of HKCSS officiate the new release of the partnership casebook – u0022Business and Social Service Partnerships – a Hong Kong Casebooku0022.

Group photos of the guests, Ms Ann Hon and Ms Christine Fang.

More photos…

Family Friendly has become a hot issue for executives who would like to enhance employees’ commitment, productivity and morale. On 5 July 2006, we organized a tea gathering to let Caring Companies know more about what u0022Family Friendlyu0022 and Employee Assistance Program are (EAP).

There were nearly 200 participants attended the event, including senior executives, personnel from Human Resources, Administration and Training Department. Ten booths with EAP service from social service organizations were there to let the participants to know more about the related services.

Ms Christine Fang, Chief Executive of HKCSS started with a welcome remarks and highlighted the importance of family and work life balance; Ms Jane Tsuei, Business Director (Service Development) briefly introduced how the EAP service provided by social service organizations could help employers develop family friendly practices in workplace.

Besides, four partnership cases regarding family friendly practices adoption in workplace were shared by EAP providers and companies.

Guest speakers and topics that were shared:

Ms Clara Law, Business Administrator of Abbott Laboratories Ltd
Mr Au Kwok Chung, Alex, Project Manager of Hong Kong Employment Development Service
Topic: The running of work-life balance training series, lunch hours talk and parent-child courses for employees

Ms Doris S.C. Mao, Manager of Supervisory u0026amp; Professional Training of MTR Corporation
Mr Suen Lap-man, Management Consultant of Employee Service Programme of Christian Family Service Centre
Topic: The establishment of hotline emotional support service and training programmes, and the formation of a booklet on Work and life balance

Ms Debbie Chong, Human Resources Manager of Pfizer Corporation Hong Kong Ltd
Ms Sania Yau, Service Coordinator of New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association
Topic: The arrangement of mental health workshop and training series for employees

Mr Lai Wai Lun, Supervisor of Caritas Personal Growth Centre for Men
Topic: The forming of father’s sharing group in business setting and games design in Office Open Day for employees’ family members

Booths with EAP service from social service organizations

Since there were nearly 200 participants attended the event, some of them needed to view the live-broadcasting.

Ms Christine Fang, Chief Executive of HKCSS

Ms Jane Tsuei, Business Director (Service Development) of HKCSS

A community visit was arranged for Caring Companies on 27 June 2006 to look into two community projects organized by The Society of Rehabilitation and Crime Prevention. This could let the companies have a brief picture on the rehabilitation services provided to ex-offenders and inspire them to have more ideas on social service collaborations in this subject.

Project 1 – Community Education in Bringing Positive Values to Teenagers

This project takes place in the first crime prevention education and resource centre, situated in the Jockey Club TeenGuard Valley. Adopting an experiential learning method, the project teaches teenagers positive values towards crime prevention.

During the visit, the participants experienced how these positive values were brought to the teenagers through participating in an interactive game in a maze and situational role play activities.

Project 2 – Facilitating the Reintegration of Ex-offenders with Mental Illness

The next stop was Chun Shek Halfway House, a hostel providing residential care for the rehabilitants who had committed crime due to mental illness. The rehabilitants would learn how to deal with their personal problems and issues related to residence, employment, finance and their families through counseling and other support services provided in the hostel. As a result, they could be more independent to reintegrate into society.

Two ex-offenders shared their stories and encountering in the hostel with the companies and showed their readiness of getting back to the community.

The visit provided a good opportunity for the participants to contact with the rehabilitants and to know that they are able to be self-reliant, which would help inspire ideas from the business sector to support the rehabilitants practically.

The Jockey Club TeenGuard Valley Crime Prevention Education and Resource Centre

The teenagers participated in situational role play activities.

Participants adventured in an interactive game in a maze.

The touring in the Chun Shek Halfway House

The participants visited the dormitories of the rehabilitants and knew more about their daily lives.

The rehabilitants shared their readiness to get back to the community.

In order to let the business sector to have a better understanding of the needs of the mentally challenged, HKCSS had organized a social service luncheon on 10 May 2006. Apart from getting more information about the mentally challenged, representatives from the business and social service sectors could have opportunity to meet each for partnership development.

The topic of the luncheon was u0022Let’s know more about Mentally Challengedu0022. Ms Nancy Tsang, Director of Heep Hong Society and Ms S. K. Leung, Executive Director of Fu Hong Society were invited to share services provided to the mentally challenged in Hong Kong, what they need and how the business sector can participate to support them.

Download the Powerpoint (Chinese version only)
Heep Hong Society
Fu Hong Society

Ms Nancy Tsang, Director of Heep Hong Society

Ms S. K. Leung, Executive Director of Fu Hong Society

The Caring Company Scheme has been matching a number of partnership projects between the business and social service sectors. On 6 May 2006, a community visit was specially arranged to see two partnership projects of this kind. We hope to inspire more ideas for collaborations between business and social service sectors. The two projects aim at helping children from low income or families of new arrivals for better life chances and development.

Project 1 – Services for Children from Low Income/New Arrivals Families (CPA Australia – Hong Kong China Division and Services for New Arrivals and Evangelical Lutheran Church Social Service – Hong Kong)

CPA Australia – Hong Kong China Division has partnered with ELCHK Tuen Mun Integrated Youth Services Centre since 2003. They have arranged different activities, e.g. mini-carnival, outings, visitations and camps for the children living in Tuen Mun district. Low-income families children could have more exposure through participating these activities. As there are quite a lot low income families/new arrivals in the district, ELCSS-HK, CPA Australia and other caring companies also design integration and developmental programs for them.

Apart from the services offered by ELCSS-HK and CPA Australia, the participants also understood more about the living environment of the vertical interim housing residents and how the children are longing for widening of their horizon. The needs of children in poverty and ways of involvement by the business sector was also shared.

Project 2 – Caltex Project Chance (Chevron Hong Kong Limited and The Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong)

Organised by The Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong and sponsored by Chevron Hong Kong Limited, Caltex Project Chance is designed to assist children from low-income families in Hong Kong to break through the barrier of poverty by enhancing their self-esteem, emotional strength, confidence and resiliency in dealing with daily hardships. Through different programmes under this project, volunteers from Chevron Hong Kong Limited have broadened their horizons and have better understanding on children’s needs.

Besides, the project has successfully applied for the matching grant from the Partnership Fund organised by Social Welfare Department, so as to increase the number of beneficiary to 300 children in three years time. The project also include parents of the children. Apart from enhancing the children development, the project also aims at establishing better family relationship. The parents shared with us that their children have improved a lot in academics and self esteem, after joining the project for a period.

A seminar on Fund Raising – International Experiences and Local Insights was held on 22 March 2006 in which delegates from the 25th International Fundraising Congress held in October 2005 in Netherlands shared the experience got from international fundraisers.

The three delegates shared what they have learnt regarding how fundraisers should position themselves in the Non-profit sector and the importance of understanding the donors’ consideration before formulating fundraising strategies. Moreover, two practical topics: u0022Cause Related Marketing and Corporate Partnershipsu0022 and u0022The Art of Writing Grant Proposalsu0022 were shared with reflections from local organisations, Panda Hotel and Keswick Foundation Limited respectively.

Panda Hotel, located in Tsuen Wan, has been raising funds for several social service organisations in Hong Kong for the past 3 years with a cause related marketing approach unintentionally. The hotel restaurant invites customers to give $3 for each food u0026amp; beverage check, and encourage in-house guests to buy wall drawings in guest rooms which are drawn by mentally challenged children from a rehabilitation organisation.

Keswick Foundation Limited shared its experience on the types of grant proposals that would attract donors’ attention and the key areas that should be mentioned in a proper proposal.

Speakers (in presentation sequence):
Ms Nancy Tsang, Director of Heep Hong Society
Mr Johnny Tsang, Executive Secretary of Hong Kong Young Women’s Christian Association
Ms Lois Lam, Senior Manager (CSR) of HKCSS
Mr Ken Lee, Assistant Human Resources Manager-Training of Panda Hotel
Ms Fanny Wong, Administrator of Keswick Foundation Limited

More and more corporates have been aware of corporate social responsibility in recent years, and there is a growing trend for 300,000 SMEs to demonstrate their commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility and in the pursuit of excellence. In order to further promote Corporate Social Responsibility to SMEs, the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and HSBC co-organized an u0022SMEs luncheon: More About Corporate Social Responsibilityu0022 on 9 March 2006 (Thursday).

During the luncheon, Ms Lois Lam of HKCSS explained the relationship between developing business and Corporate Social Responsibility of an organization and how SMEs can act to be a good corporate citizen. The participants also shared how they served the community through developing partnership. The SMEs were enlightened about taking on the road to Corporate Social Responsibility more effectively.

Download the Powerpoint (Chinese version only)

Ms Christine Fang, Chief Executive of HKCSS gave a welcoming remarks to the participants

Ms Lois Lam, Senior Manager (Corporate Social Responsibility) of HKCSS introduced Corporate Social Responsibility to the SMEs and social service organizations

Mrs Virginia Lo, Senior Manager External Affairs of HSBC shared the experience of practising Corporate Social Responsibility with SMEs