The Community Investment & Inclusion Fund today launched SC.Net, a platform for various community sectors to exchange ideas and share experience in the development of social capital.

Launching SC.Net today, otherwise known as the social capital network, the fund's committee chairman Yeung Ka-sing said in the last six years the challenges faced by Hong Kong have had a direct impact on people's livelihood.

"During this period the CIIF supported quite a number of community projects to promote mutual support among the public and provide timely assistance to families and people in need, thereby helping our community to struggle against adversity," he said.

"The achievements of the fund in promoting the building of community networks are widely known. The inauguration of SC.Net symbolises a new era for the CIIF in the promotion of social capital."

Mutual support

Secretary for Labour & Welfare Matthew Cheung backed SC.Net saying Hong Kong is being affected by the global financial turmoil. He called on all sectors to work together to fight adversity.

He presented appointment certificates to more than 50 founding members of SC.Net and thanked them for their support for the fund, urging them to promote the concept of social capital to benefit more people.

The Government established the $300 million Community Investment & Inclusion Fund in 2002 to foster mutual support in the neighbourhood, promote community participation and provide seed funding for district projects to build social capital. The fund has supported more than 180 community projects, benefiting 300,000 people.

The fund is now inviting the 14th round of applications on the theme of enhancement of young people's resilience and employability. Click here for information.