Social Enterprises
71. The widening wealth gap is a global trend. Today, corporate CEOs and sports superstars take home astronomically high pay, while many people's income remains stagnant. I believe that to prevent the widening wealth gap from becoming a serious social conflict, it is important for the well-off to care for the disadvantaged. Enterprises should fulfill their social responsibilities. To translate this into action, the business community and professionals should actively volunteer to participate in charity work including promoting the development of social enterprises. Hong Kong has an excellent track record in charitable activities. This is clearly shown in our people's generosity in providing relief for disaster victims of the floods in the Mainland and the tsunami in South Asia. In this new era, we have to foster a new caring culture in Hong Kong. We need to nurture more social entrepreneurs to achieve our social goals with entrepreneurial thinking and commercial strategies.
72. In my election campaign, I have pledged to promote the development of social enterprises by motivating a tri-partite collaboration among the Government, business and society. With concerted efforts, we can promote the development of social enterprises and boost employment. Eligible operators of social enterprises are not only non-profit-making organisations. The business community can play an important part as well. I have already received a series of social enterprise projects from non-government organisations. I will invite non-profit-making organisations and the business community to participate in these projects. I will also convene a summit on social enterprises before year end.
