1. Analysis report on key welfare & social development issues.

• The Council prepared and released the "Social Vision 2012: Towards a Sustainable and Cohesive Hong Kong" in November 2006 during the Annual General Meeting. The report identifies 5 key social development target areas for the next 5 years, namely, poverty, population ageing, family solidarity, cross-border social needs and social participation; and provides a detailed analysis of social development in past 10 years and also proposes a set of concrete and feasible recommendations for realizing the social vision.
• 38 of the 40 election committee members of the social welfare sub-sector signed in support of the Social Vision.
• Following the formulation of the proposal on social welfare blueprint, the Council has further brought up the agenda to the Government, the Social Welfare Advisory Committee and the LegCo Welfare Panel and made submissions on the importance and the structure of the welfare planning mechanism. The Chief Executive, in his re-election manifesto, has stated that he will "study the long-term social welfare development plan for Hong Kong through the Social Welfare Advisory Committee and the participation of the welfare sector."
• Extensive consultation with the sector was held on the annual welfare priorities and the views were consolidated in a proposal to the Government. The Government’s policy initiatives for this year include the enhancing of outreaching work to needy families, strengthening childcare services, providing specialized services for victims of domestic violence, and service for vulnerable elderly.
• The Council played an active part in the review of the Rehabilitation Programme Plan. Intensive discussion with the sector was held and a number of submissions on various subjects were made to the Government. The Government Working Group adopted the Council’s proposed framework for the Programme Plan and the draft report is now being prepared.

2. Platforms for the sector, users & cross-sectoral stakeholders to discuss the identified policy targets and initiatives.
   

• In order to gain the support and views of social workers, service users and other professionals, 3 focus group sessions were held before the preparation of the draft Social Vision 2012. A set of 6 fact sheets were prepared to enable focus group participants to have better understanding of social development and situation of vulnerable groups in Hong Kong.
• After releasing the draft Social Vision 2012 in September 2006, three community forums were held to gain members' feedback.
• When the Social Vision was finalised, a forum was organized on November 6, 2006 to release the paper. About 200 people participated in the forum and representatives of 7 political parties attended as respondents.
• Apart from the Standing and Specialized Committees, 20 service networks were formed to provide platforms for the sector to discuss issues of concern, and exchange practice wisdom and seek common solutions. The Council staff also participated in 50 Government committees/ working groups and contributed views from the NGO perspective. Major issues handled:
  • Multi-disciplinary collaboration to tackle domestic violence
  • Implementation of Integrated Family Service Centre and preparation for a service review
  • Additional resources for Family Support Service- Evaluation of District Elderly Community Centre/ Neighbourhood Elderly Centre
  • Improvement in Integrated Home Care Service Team
  • Recommendations on Youth Employment Services
  • Promotion of cross sector collaboration on prevention of drug abuse, prevention of school dropout, active ageing etc.
  • Introduction of Race Discrimination Bill and implications on service delivery
  • Promotion of Barrier-free society for people with disabilities

3. Policy recommendations to key policy makers, political parties and the Chief Executive election candidates.

• The Social Vision 2012 has gained the support of political parties as well as Election Committee members of social welfare sub sector and some other sectors. A sharing session was held in February 2007 for EC members to identify measures for further promoting social development and monitoring social development efforts in Hong Kong. The paper has also been sent to the two candidates of CE election. Representatives of the HKCSS met with the candidates subsequently and gained their support to a number of recommendations.

Focus Two: Promote Family Work Balance Culture in H.K.

• Stronger Families, Stronger Workforce, Stronger Community

1. Thematic Report on Family.

• The thematic report on family was prepared with its main findings released to the media and presented in the Conference on Balancing Work and Family organized by the Council in May 2006. The results drew the attention of conference participants towards the needs of families and the increasing number of single parent families and children. They were also widely reported by the media.

2. Conference on Balancing Work and Family.

• The Conference was successfully held in May 2006 with positive feedback from 200 participants from the Government, business and NGO sector.

3. Family Friendly Community Education Programmes – launching media event, RTHK radio programme, website & web poll, roving exhibition, and publication.

• Collaboration with RTHK to promote Family-Work Balance in "Civil Society" programme Radio 1
  • Focus on Family Friendly
    • Family Friendly measures e.g. Five days work（1/5/06）
    • Introducing Family Friendly supporting services for employers, e.g. Employee Assistance Programme（8/5/06）
    • Highlights of press conference on International Family Day（15/5/06）
    • Discussion on HKCSS's Thematic Report on Family（22/5/06）
    • Political parties to discuss how to actualize Family Friendly Workplace（29/5/06）
  • Focus on Corporate Citizenship
    • interviews with Caring Companies providing Family Friendly Workplace
• Family Work Balance Website
  • Provide tips & references
  • Promote joint projects by the business and social service sector
• Web poll by the general public jointly organized by RTHK & HKCSS to vote for the most well-received Family Friendly measures
• Roving Exhibition to enhance public understanding (May – August 2006)
  • Cityplaza, Taikoo Shing (14-18/5/06)
  • Telford Plaza (29-31/5/06)
  • Shun Tak Centre (23-25/8/06)
• The theme of Scenario June 2006 issue was on "Family Work Balance", presenting case sharing of government departments and corporates on how to provide a family-friendly work environment for employees and tips on how to strike Family Work Balance. E-version was also published and widely sent to interested parties through the email system.

4. Promote partnership between business & social welfare sectors in providing family friendly support to employees by good practice sharing.

• A promotion brochure on Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) was prepared and distributed to the business sector for reference.
• A tea gathering was organized for the business sector to meet NGOs, share information on EAP and explore collaboration opportunities.