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A total of 121 organisations out of 213 applications received have been approved to hold flag days to raise funds for their charitable projects on 52 Saturdays and nine Wednesdays which fall on school or public holidays in 2008-09. Flag sales will be conducted from 7am to 12.30pm on the approved flag days.
A spokesman for the Social Welfare Department said today (March 28) that in order to allow more organisations to conduct flag sales, 30 flag days had been assigned as Regional Flag Days in 2008-09. Three organisations will sell flags to solicit donations concurrently, one each on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and in the New Territories respectively.
The spokesman said that for easy identification, the flag day organisers were required to put on the money collection bags the name of the organisation and mark 䩕This flag day has been approved by the Social Welfare Department蒅.
The spokesman appealed to flag day organisers to take precautions against any possible fraud. They should inform the Police of any loss of property and seek their help if fraudulent acts, such as tampering with collection bags or unauthorised fund-raising, are found.
People can visit the Social Welfare Department homepage at www.swd.gov.hk if they wish to check information on flag days. They are also welcome to call the departmental hotline at 2343 2255, or the department headquarters at 2832 4311 during office hours.
The spokesman also said that the Government has promulgated the 䩕Reference Guide on Best Practices for Charitable Fund-raising Activities蒅 to help charities to improve the transparency and accountability of their charitable fund-raising activities. The best practices of the reference guide cover donors﷿rights, fund-raising practices and financial accountability. The reference guide is accessible at the Social Welfare Department homepage.
Attached please find a list of flag days and organisations for fund-raising for 2008-09.
Ends/Friday, March 28, 2008
Issued at HKT 15:46
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