The SE Directory
What is the SE Directory?
The SE Directory (Social Enterprise Directory) is a list of SEs vetted and registered by the Social Enterprise Business Centre (SEBC) in Hong Kong, sponsored by the Home Affairs Department. Given that there is no legal definition of and registration system for social enterprise in HK, the SE Directory serves as one of the recognised channels for the public to look for information on social enterprises.
The Social Enterprise Business Centre (SEBC) has been compiling and publishing the SE Directory every year since 2007, via its website and mobile applications (iOS: https://goo.gl/h1S9tC & Android: https://goo.gl/htHiHr). Through the SE Directory, SEBC strives to build a systematic social enterprise searching platform, and promote it to all sectors in order to enhance the publicity of social enterprises in Hong Kong. To this date, over 10,000 booklets have been issued, and the search engine and the mobile application have seen extensive use of more than 2,800,000 views and 5,900 downloads respectively.
Link to SEBC here: Social Enterprise Business Centre
What is the benefit of being registered in the SE Directory?
- Fundraising: as the SE Directory is endorsed by the Government, sometimes there are funding applications that are open exclusively or targeting the SE Directory registered social enterprises.
- Business Support: SEs listed in the SE Directory are eligible for a range of discounted or free business support, directly provided by our Centre’s corporate partners. As of 2021 Oct, the covered areas included: legal (Thomas Reuters Foundation, PILnet), accounting (KPMG), banking and insurance (Marsh, DBS bank), HR, marketing, design and production, software and equipment, etc. Browse the relevant webpage for more details.
- SEs Gift Certificate: SEs Gift Certificate, launched in 2014 by our Centre, is popular among big corporations and anyone keen on supporting the local community (e.g. vouchers to staff, for guests on special occasions, etc.). To date, it can be used in more than 100 social enterprises, local shops, and organic and fair-trade sales points in Hong Kong; and redeemed at 7 points – and by Asia Miles! If you would like to increase sales and expand your customer base by accepting SEs Gift Certificate at your SE, after you are registered with SE Directory, you can join the ‘Social Enterprise Gift Certificate Program’.
Application Process
Eligibility – the Listing Criteria
- The applicant shall be registered under the laws of the HKSAR, and have a business that has been in operation for one year or longer
- The applicant should serve one or more social objectives
- No less than 50% of its annual income was generated from direct sales
- If the applicant is not granted tax exemption under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance, it should fulfill the below criteria, and will be required to sign the Declaration Statement to declare that during the business’s past two years of operation –
- Only 35% or less of its profit was distributed to its shareholders
- The business’s assets purchased or possessed were not transferred to other companies or individuals.
Submit the Application Form
If you are eligible, visit the Download page to access application forms and other related information, and submit your application with all of your supplementary documents at sebc@hkcss.org.hk. See below for the required documents.
Listing Application on SE Directory
- Application Form (PDF file) – mandatory for all applicants
- Application Form (Word file) – mandatory for all applicants (same as above PDF file)
- Declaration Statement (PDF file) – for non-S88 entities only
- Declaration Statement (Word file) – for non-S88 entities only (same as above PDF file)
Document checklist (if applicable)
- Certification of tax exemption under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (if applicable)
- Proven documents of the registration under Society Ordinance, Co-operative Society Ordinance, or The Companies Ordinance
- Valid Business Registration Certificate (if applicable)
- Memorandum of Association/Constitution of the organisation
- The latest independent audit report
💡 From our experience, note that SEBC may ask for additional supplementary information such as your SE’s logo files, the SE introduction in Chinese, Product/service introduction in Chinese, 3-4 service or product photos, etc. as a follow up request after your initial submission.
(For existing listees) Update the SE Directory Information
For SEs already listed that want to update your information in the Directory, complete and submit the information update form to sebc@hkcss.org.hk.
Processing and Review
- SEBC accepts SEs’ applications to be listed on a rolling basis.
- After your application submission, SEBC may reach out to you to schedule a phone (or face-to-face) interview. From our previous experience, the entire vetting process including the interview, review of the application, and the request for additional information – takes around 3 months.
Other Information
Other than SEBC, there are other channels that recognise social enterprises. For example:
- “SEE Mark” introduced by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Social Enterprises, featured online platform “SE Gallery” powered by ET Net under Hong Kong Economic Times
- “SE Award Scheme” organised by Home Affairs Bureau and Social Enterprise Advisory Committee
- The Enhancing Self-Reliance Through District Partnership Programme (ESR Programme) by the Home Affairs Department and “Enhancing Employment of People with Disabilities through Small Enterprise” Project by the Social Welfare Department, etc.
