Conference on Social Investment and Future Tripartite Partnerships 
3 April 2004

Over 400 participants attended this Conference, hosted by the Health Welfare and Food Bureau. The purpose of this Conference is to involve parties with shared interest in welfare - such as NGO board members, senior service managers, academics and social policy advisors - in revisiting welfare philosophies, reflecting on international trends and deliberating local strategic responses. At this Conference strategies, such as taking more active social investment approaches to welfare policies and services and extending tripartite partnerships involving the business sector, were considered.

Over 450 response forms were received from the Conference participants. The majority [around 4 to 1] of the respondents were in agreement with the strategic directions put forward and discussed at the Conference. Most expressed the view that revisiting welfare philosophies was necessary and that strategic shifts were urgently needed. 
This snapshot provided clear indications that the proposed policy directions and concepts such as social capital, social investment and sharing responsibilities through tripartite partnerships were gaining mainstream support (as reflected amongst the participants). 
Most of the questions raised were concerned with "how" to shift from the current position to a social investment approach.

Please click here for 
the Participant response summary, 
Conference papers and 
the Reference Materials. 
Comments or suggestions are most welcome and may be directed to the Health Welfare and Food Bureau by fax (2523-7283).