Charity commitments exceed US$80m
More than 25 'commitments to action' were made at Bill Clinton's Global Initiative in Hong Kong yesterday, event organisers said.
Those commitments - valued at more than US$80 million - are an important part of the former US president's philanthropic movement, which calls upon regional and global leaders to help tackle some of the world's most pressing problems.
'We ask each participant to make a specific commitment to action, to do something new and measurable to address problems like poverty, education, health care, climate change, religious and ethnic conflicts or other challenges which exist today,' Mr Clinton said.
'We don't require anyone to do anything specific or to spend any particular amount of money. We don't get involved in the implementing or funding of the projects except to offer help with our full-time office of implementation when people need it.'
During the opening session yesterday morning, Mr Clinton called attention to CGI Asia's first three commitments, including a plan to develop a Hong Kong Beach Authority in order to keep city beaches clean.
