Welcome Message

Building a Caring Community by Pooling Social Capital

I am deeply honoured to assume the role of Chairman of the Community Investment and Inclusion Fund (CIIF) Committee, working alongside fellow committee members, funded project teams and collaborative partners to promote the development of social capital in Hong Kong for building a caring community.

When people talk about the CIIF, many refer to it as a “Caring Fund” for the mission of the CIIF is precisely to build a caring society. Since its establishment in 2002, the CIIF has funded over 500 social capital development projects spanning across Hong Kong. Through cross-sectoral collaboration, various sectors are encouraged to leverage their strengths and complement one and other, thereby successfully building up mutual support networks across ages, ethnicities, social classes and sectors. These “mutual backing” networks embody the essence of caring and represent the social capital that the CIIF strives to promote.

For more than two decades, the CIIF has witnessed countless heartwarming stories. During my involvement in the work of the CIIF Committee, I have experienced the power of social capital through my in-person exchanges with project teams, participants, volunteers and collaborators on the frontlines. On one occasion, I visited a community support programme for new public housing estates, where a singleton elderly resident shared with me his story. When he first moved in, he was depressed as he could not afford to buy furniture. Yet thanks to the project team’s efforts in liaising with collaborators on donated second-hand furniture and arranging for neighbours to volunteer for the installation work, he settled well in his new sweet home. Originally a beneficiary, he has ended up as a volunteer dedicating his spare time and skills to assist other newly moved-in residents, and has gradually built up a neighbourhood network of mutual care and support. Stories like these have been the driving force behind my engagement in the work of the CIIF Committee, and I look forward to witnessing more positive changes that our funded projects may bring to the community.

Building social capital requires the efforts from all walks of life. The CIIF Committee comprises members from diverse sectors such as education, community services, healthcare and business. There are also different young faces in the Committee, setting an example of cross-sectoral collaboration. We will leverage our respective expertise and networks to contribute our best to the CIIF, creating the synergy of “one plus one is greater than two”. During my tenure, apart from supporting various social capital development projects along the Government’s development directions and community needs, we will also continue with our publicity and education efforts, including exchanges and training through the Social Capital Institute, with a view to further rooting social capital in society.

In closing, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the former Chairmen and members of the CIIF Committee for their robust contributions in laying a solid foundation for the development of the CIIF. In the future, I will uphold the mission of the CIIF and work closely with committee members and other stakeholders to build a more caring Hong Kong.