Ms. Christine Fang
Chief Executive of Hong Kong Council of Social Service

Dear Mr. Tang, Ms. Perry, Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

On behalf of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and the Hong Kong Joint Council for People with Disabilities, I am very pleased to welcome all of you to our "Untapped Potential: Corporations and NGO Partnership Forum on Disability and Employment".

Today is a special day, which provides a golden opportunity to bring together the representatives of business sector, government and NGOs to exchange views and ideas on employment and disability over this common platform.

People with disabilities are untapped resources of skills and talents. Throughout these years, rehabilitation NGOs strive to promote employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Companies also have heightened their awareness in embracing disabled people into workplace. According to our Council's Caring Company Scheme, 362 out of 963 Caring Companies (about 40%) have been employing and offering job opportunities for people with disabilities. It is really encouraging.

I have to thank for Ms. Debra Perry, the Senior Vocational Specialist of International Labor Office, to be our keynote speaker of this 2-day programme. Moreover, in the coming session, several corporations will share their business cases of hiring people with disabilities. I am certain that they are good practices for you to follow suit in the workplace.

In recent years, social enterprise has become a popular employment model in rehabilitation field. Up till now, about 80 rehabilitation social enterprises have been established and create over 1,300 employment and training opportunities for people with disabilities. The experience has proven that disabled employees could make significant contributions to corporations under proper training and accommodation.

The Hong Kong Council of Social Services supports the full inclusion of people with disabilities in workplace. People with disabilities should enjoy equal opportunities in employment, and they should have the right to choose based on their abilities, not disabilities. So your support is critical in helping people with disabilities to be fully participating and inclusive in the open labor market.

I would like to wish you a productive and profitable day, and I look forward to hearing the outcome of this important gathering.

Thank you.