Press Releases
CIIF releases annual performance report
The Community and Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF) today (July 14) released
the second annual performance report "Passing on Wisdom and Experience, and
Further Reflections" to recapture experiences shared at the second annual forum
held last October.
Speaking at a press conference, the chairman of the CIIF, Dr Raymond Wu Wai-yung,
said it was a challenging job to introduce a novel concept to different sectors
of the community, and to advance from knowing to understanding; and from
grasping the concept to putting it into action.
"It is most gratifying to witness people from different walks of life giving
positive responses to the CIIF which has been in operation for less than three
years.
"Entitled 'Passing on Wisdom and Experience, and Further Reflections', the
report is a further illustration that social capital building is a major
forestation exercise, from nurturing the seedlings into mature forests. The
experience of the project teams confirms that the spirit of social capital will
endure and bring us more and more welcoming surprises through implementing more
projects," he said.
Sharing her experience with the fund, newly appointed CIIF member and business
collaborator for CIIF project, Ms Lau Ka-shi, said participation in CIIF
projects was a way of exercising corporate social responsibility and affirmed
that "giving was more blessed than receiving".
The participation by staff could broaden their perspectives and strengthen their
commitment to the community, which gave them greater sense of satisfaction and
conducive to raising work efficiency and staff morale, she said.
The CIIF was introduced as a new initiative in the 2001 Policy Address with a
view to developing social capital. Since its introduction, 85 projects amounting
to $68 million had been approved in six batches of applications, with some 1,000
participating partners. Projects are carried out in all districts.
To consolidate the accomplishment of the fund, the Health, Welfare and Food
Bureau has extended the CIIF operation for another three years to 2008.
In addition to continuously supporting projects which promote tripartite
partnership and inculcate social capital, the CIIF will devise three strategic
development focus: (1) to extend effective project models in different districts
and adapted to suit the particular situations of each district; (2) to support
innovative initiatives in tackling the root causes of inter-generational poverty
as stated in the 2005 Policy Address; and (3) to encourage more community
building projects to enhance the community's ability to face adversity and
create more opportunities.
Dr Wu also announced at the press conference the initial arrangements of the
third annual forum and expo in December. Some 60 projects teams will participate
in the forum and showcase their projects in the expo. Sixteen academics from
five local universities have formed an Evaluation Consortium and will share
their preliminary findings and insights in the forum.
The CIIF is inviting the seventh batch of applications with a closing date of
July 31, 2005, while the eighth batch is expected to begin in September. Details
will be posted on the fund's website at http://www.hwfb.gov.hk/ciif.
For copies of the report or enquiries on the fund, please contact the Project
Management Officer of the CIIF Secretariat, Mrs Grace Ng (Tel: 2973 8132).
Ends/Thursday, July 14, 2005
Issued at HKT 18:26
NNNN