International Social Service (hong Kong Branch)

What International Social Service (hong Kong Branch) does

International Social Service Hong Kong Branch (ISS-HK) is a non-profit social service organization incorporated as a company limited by guarantee in Hong Kong and operating as the Hong Kong branch of the International Social Service global network (Geneva headquarters since 1924, with 15 branches and liaison representatives in 120+ countries). Founded as a representative office in 1958, formalized as a branch in January 1972, and registered in Hong Kong on February 9, 1973, ISS-HK delivers a portfolio of social services organized across six core lines: services for families (including two Integrated Family Service Centres in Sham Shui Po and Tin Shui Wai), services for children and youths (adoption, foster care, 12 Small Group Homes with 98 beds, and school social work), services for migrants (new arrivals from mainland China, ethnic minorities via the HOPE and DREAM centres, and Non-Refoulement Claimants), services for the elderly under the Fujian Scheme and Portable CSSA programmes, services in Chinese Mainland (Guangzhou and Shenzhen cross-border offices), and the ISS Family Institute. The ISS Family Institute, established in 2002, provides training, counseling, and professional development based on Bowen Family Systems Theory, with courses priced at HK$3,990–HK$4,200 and an annual membership tier at HK$300.

ISS-HK's service delivery model is built on government commissioning rather than fee-for-service transactions. Core social services for eligible recipients are provided free of charge, funded through the Social Welfare Department, Education Bureau, and Home Affairs Department, with additional anchor grants from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and Hong Kong Community Chest. Revenue diversification comes from training course fees (HK$3,990–HK$4,200), publications (HK$99 per book), an annual fundraising lottery, individual and corporate donations, and the ISS Family Institute Circle of Friends membership. The organization operates from a Wan Chai headquarters plus 12 additional service points across Hong Kong (Sham Shui Po, Tin Shui Wai, Sheung Shui, Kowloon Bay, Kwun Tong, Tuen Mun, Prince Edward, Kowloon City, and Ping Shek), three Shenzhen districts (Luohu, Futian, Nanshan), and multiple Guangzhou locations, with an at-border presence at Luohu Crossing and the Immigration Department.

The technical core is the Bowen Family Systems Theory framework, which underpins clinical practice, organizational management training, and personal development programs delivered by the ISS Family Institute. The institute holds authorized rights to translate and distribute Bowen's "One Family's Story" in Chinese, and a Service Director who has studied Bowen theory since 1990 sits on the international "Promoting Bowen Theory Development" committee. Cross-boundary family case work is supported by the ISS global network's inter-country case-handling infrastructure, which is a distinguishing capability relative to purely local Hong Kong NGOs. The organization is led by Chief Executive Stephen Yau (GBS, JP), with an Advisory Committee chaired by Dr. Siyuan Zhong and Mrs. Lee Lam Lai-chan serving as Patron. ISS-HK is PDPA-compliant and registered independently in Mainland China as an overseas NGO since 2021.

Name

International Social Service (hong Kong Branch)

Legal name

International Social Service Hong Kong Branch

Website

https://isshk.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Short description

International Social Service Hong Kong Branch is a non-profit social service organization delivering government-commissioned family, child welfare, migrant, elderly, and cross-border services across 13+ Hong Kong and Mainland China locations, anchored in Bowen Family Systems Theory and the ISS global network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Welfare Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Child and Youth Services (62411), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Asylum & Refugee Status Determination (RSD) Support (BPADAHAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Down Syndrome & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Childcare (HSAAAIAC)

Keywords

• Social welfare services
• Family counseling
• Adoption services
• Foster care
• Cross-boundary social work

Headquarters

HQ city

Hong Kong

HQ country

Hong Kong SAR China

HQ region

Asia

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Subsidized Services: ISS-HK receives commissioned funding from Hong Kong government departments including Social Welfare Department, Education Bureau, and Home Affairs Department for various social service programs.
2. Training Course Fees: The ISS Family Institute generates revenue through training course fees, with courses like Bowen Theory programs priced at HK$4,200 (standard) and HK$3,990 (member rates).
3. Donations: The organization accepts donations from individuals and corporations, with various payment methods including online donations, cheques, and bank transfers.
4. Publications and Books Sales: Sale of publications and educational materials such as books and videos. Example: 'Laughter and Tears – Adoption Stories in HK' priced at HK$99.
5. Lottery Proceeds: ISS-HK conducts lottery draws (e.g., 2026 Lottery) as a fundraising mechanism.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ISS-HK is a non-profit social service organization that delivers a comprehensive portfolio of social welfare services across Hong Kong and Mainland China. Core offerings include family services (integrated family service centres), children and youth services (adoption, foster care, small group homes, school social work), migrant services (new arrivals, ethnic minorities, non-refoulement claimants), elderly welfare coordination (Fujian Scheme, PCSSA), and the ISS Family Institute providing Bowen Family Systems Theory-based training, counseling, and professional development.

Product overview

International Social Service Hong Kong Branch (ISS-HK) operates as a social services organization, not a technology platform. It offers a diverse portfolio of social services organized into six main categories: (1) Services for Families including Integrated Family Service Centres; (2) Services for Children & Youths covering Adoption, Foster Care, Small Group Home, and School Social Work; (3) Services for Migrants including support for new arrivals, ethnic minorities, and Non-Refoulement Claimants; (4) Services for the Elderly under Fujian Scheme and PCSSA programmes; (5) Services in Chinese Mainland through Guangzhou and Shenzhen centres; and (6) ISS Family Institute providing Bowen Family Systems Theory-based training, counselling, and professional development. The organization also runs specialized centres including HOPE and DREAM for ethnic minorities, and offers community programmes such as the ISS' Got Talent Scholarship and Life Rider Career Planning Programme. These services operate independently as social welfare programmes and are not delivered through an integrated technology platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 國際社家庭學院 (ISS Family Institute): A training and counseling institute established in 2002 applying Bowen Family Systems Theory to strengthen individual, family and social functioning. Offers training programmes, counseling services, and professional development for social workers and the community.
• HOPE少數族裔人士支援服務中心 (HOPE Centre for Ethnic Minorities)
• DREAM少數族裔人士支援服務中心 (DREAM Support Service Centre for Ethnic Minorities)

Products and services

• Services for Families Integrated family services including cross-boundary and inter-country social service, plus operations of the Sham Shui Po (South) and Tin Shui Wai (North) Integrated Family Service Centres for vulnerable families in Hong Kong.
• Services for Children & Youths Comprehensive children and youth services including Adoption, Foster Care, Small Group Home (12 homes with 98 beds), and School Social Work and School Support Services for primary and secondary school students.
• Services for Migrants Services for new arrivals from Chinese Mainland, non-Chinese migrants including ethnic minorities, and administration of assistance for Non-Refoulement Claimants including counselling, food allowance, accommodation subsidies, and transport assistance.
• Services for the Elderly Assists elderly recipients under the Fujian Scheme and Portable Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (PCSSA) Fujian Province programme with annual eligibility reviews and welfare coordination across the border.
• Services in Chinese Mainland Service centres in Guangzhou and Shenzhen providing cross-border family services, youth services, marriage and family counselling, and support for Hong Kong families living in Mainland China.
• ISS Family Institute Founded in 2002, provides training, counselling, consultation, and professional development based on Bowen Family Systems Theory for social workers, mental health professionals, and community members.
• HOPE Support Service Centre for Ethnic Minorities Support centre offering language courses (Cantonese, English), computer workshops, employment assistance, integration activities, and wellness programmes for non-Chinese speaking residents in Hong Kong.
• DREAM Support Service Centre for Ethnic Minorities

Quantifiable outcome

• 98 residential spots provided through 12 Small Group Homes
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles8 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• China Social Welfare Foundation (中国社会福利基金会)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnership for emergency relief operations. China Social Welfare Foundation distributed RMB 75 million in donations to five Hong Kong charitable organizations including ISS-HK for Tai Po fire relief efforts in 2024.
• Social Welfare Department (社会福利署)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary government commissioning agency for social services including school social work, adoption, foster care, Small Group Homes, cross-boundary services, and Non-Refoulement Claimant assistance programs.
• Education Bureau (教育局)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for school social work services and New Arrivals Children Adaptation Courses, providing funding and policy support for student welfare programs.
• Baron School of Music (伯乐音乐学院)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSupporting partner for ISS Got Talent Scholarship program. Hosted music studio tours and experiences for scholarship winners, supporting talent development for children receiving ISS-HK services.
• Bowen Center for Family Study (Washington D.C.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic and training partner for Bowen Family Systems Theory. ISS Family Institute is authorized to translate and distribute 'One Family's Story: A Primer on Bowen Theory' in Chinese. ISS-HK representative serves on the 'Promoting Bowen Theory Development' committee.
• ARCH Community OutreachsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative with ISS-HK for 'EMbrace Tech for Change' program, empowering secondary school students from diverse ethnic backgrounds with essential tech skills.
• Liwan District Government, Guangzhou (广州市荔湾区人民政府逢源街道办事处)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner for Guangzhou operations since 1997, co-establishing comprehensive service centers for separated cross-border families in the mainland.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Christian Action: Hong Kong NGO providing refugee/asylum seeker assistance, ethnic minority services, and cross-boundary programs. Closely comparable to ISS-HK's Non-Refoulement Claimant assistance and ethnic minority services (HOPE/DREAM centers).
• Caritas Hong Kong: One of Hong Kong's largest Catholic social service NGOs providing integrated family, youth, elderly, and migrant services, including cross-boundary programs. Directly comparable to ISS-HK in scale, commissioned-government funding model, and service breadth across Hong Kong.
• Hong Kong Family Welfare Society: Major HK NGO operating integrated family service centers, elderly services, and youth programs. Closely comparable to ISS-HK's family service center model in Sham Shui Po and Tin Shui Wai.
• Hong Kong Children & Youth Services: HK NGO providing children and youth services including school social work, foster care, and family support. Directly comparable to ISS-HK's School Social Work and Foster Care programs.
• Po Leung Kuk: Historic Hong Kong charity (est. 1878) operating social services including adoption, foster care, child residential care, school social work, and family services. Closely comparable to ISS-HK in its child welfare and family services portfolio.
• St James Settlement: Multi-service Hong Kong NGO providing family, children/youth, elderly, and migrant support services. Comparable service breadth and government-commissioned operating model to ISS-HK.
• International Social Service - USA Branch: Sister branch within the ISS global network providing international casework, adoption, and cross-border family services. Directly comparable as part of the same ISS network with similar cross-border social work capabilities.

Emerging players

• Hong Kong Unison Limited: HK NGO focused specifically on ethnic minority rights and integration services. Comparable to ISS-HK's HOPE and DREAM Support Service Centres for Ethnic Minorities, though with narrower scope.
• Mission for Migrant Workers: HK-based NGO providing services for foreign domestic workers and migrants. Partial overlap with ISS-HK's Migrants Programme for ethnic minorities, though more focused on a specific migrant subgroup.

Others

• The Hong Kong Council of Social Service: Umbrella organization representing Hong Kong's NGO social service sector. Relevant comparator for understanding ISS-HK's positioning within the broader HK social services ecosystem rather than a direct service competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/embed/-C2QT6mZ6x4
• Facebookfacebook.com/isshk.org
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-social-service---hong-kong

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Social Service (hong Kong Branch)