HONG KONG (KKP): The first Deignan Award ceremony, named after late Jesuit Father Alfred Deignan, to recognise good business practices of small and medium enterprises [SMEs] in Macau and Hong Kong, was organised on March 25. The ceremony awarded six conscientious, small and medium-sized enterprises from Hong Kong and Macau for their efforts to promote positive business values in the community.
The Deignan Award for Responsible Entrepreneurship is a collaboration between the Macau-based Ricci Institute and Woofoo Foundation of Hong Kong. The ceremony took place on the birthday of Father Deignan at Yasumoto International Academic Park at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
The Deignan Award recognises the mission of Father Deignan, former school supervisor of Wan Yan College, Kowloon, and his commitment to education and the promotion of values and ethical business practices. The award aims to encourage and recognise today’s business leaders for their efforts to operate according to principles of sustainability and an orientation towards the common good.
Father Stephan Rothlin, director of Macau Ricci Institute, said he hopes that the awards will inspire more businesses in Hong Kong and Macau to fulfil their corporate social responsibility, respect human dignity and fairness, and promote the direction of sustainable development while maintaining corporate profitability.
In his message, Bishop Stephen Chow Sau-yan reminded companies to develop their businesses with a focus on human dignity and environmental and ecological values. He said he supported the award for promoting universal and ethical values among entrepreneurs and encouraged people to learn from Father Deignan’s spirit and create a culture of justice and charity in Hong Kong, Macau and around the world.
Bernard Chan Pak-li, the undersecretary of the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, said that as the pandemic subsides and the economy recovers, it is crucial to proceed with development sustainably. In addition, as consumers become more environmentally conscious, conscientious businesses will have an advantage in publicity, as they will be more effective in boosting trade and attracting investors.
Joseph Lee, the founder of Wofoo Social Enterprises Hong Kong, said the mission and objectives of enterprises play an important role in their growth and sustainability, and good missions and goals are also crucial to building a prosperous society. He told the Kung Kung Po after the award ceremony that “love others as ourselves” is a universal value, and he, as a Catholic, hoped that this award would encourage businesses to love others as themselves so that in a society full of hatred and division, “people are reminded to care for others in the face of challenges and to make the world a better place”.
Three outstanding small and medium enterprises from Hong Kong and Macau were selected by the judges from the business, education and non-profitmaking sectors of Hong Kong and Macau, respectively. The Hong Kong winners were GoGoChart Technology Limited, Sunta Chemical Limited, and Farmacy HK Limited.
