Community minded: Financial Secretary Henry Tang has called for co-operation to promote social enterprise and help the disadvantaged become self reliant.

Financial Secretary Henry Tang has called for co-operation among different sectors in the community to promote social enterprise in Hong Kong and help the disadvantaged achieve self-reliance.

He gave the remarks at a conference today which aims to enhance community understanding of social enterprise and explain its relevance to poverty alleviation.

"We see good potential of social enterprise in helping the disadvantaged achieve self-reliance. How to nurture its growth in Hong Kong certainly deserves the attention of policy makers, businesses, NGOs and those who share the desire to help the disadvantaged," Mr Tang said.

Central Policy Unit Head Prof Lau Siu-kai said social-enterprise development could be viewed as a subset of the wider 'third sector' development - those parts of civil society that are neither government nor business, including associations, non-governmental organisations, non-profit organisations, advocacy groups, citizen groups and social movements.

Prof Lau added today's conference showcased the potential of the Third Sector in using innovative solutions to bring about social change.

Jointly organised by the Commission on Poverty and the Central Policy Unit, the one-day conference attracted more than 300 participants.