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Fifty-five organisations had been granted permission to raise funds during March 2008, a Social Welfare Department spokesman said today (February 28).
The organisations will sell flags, badges or tokens, or place donation boxes in designated public places.
Special arrangements apply on March 1, 15 and 26, when three organisations will conduct flag sales on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and the New Territories respectively.
Flag selling hours are between 7am to 12.30pm.
Any organisation planning to hold activities involving collection of money or sale or exchange for donations of badges, tokens or similar articles in a public place for charitable purposes should apply for a public subscription permit from the SWD.
Activities covered by public subscription permits are listed on the department's website, www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_whatsnew/.
People are welcome to call the department's hotline at 2343 2255, or SWD headquarters at 2832 4311 for enquiries during office hours.
The spokesman urged people to visit the department's website or to call the hotline if there was any doubt regarding any fund-raising activities, and he appealed to organisers to take precautions against any possible fraud.
The spokesman said that the flag day organisers were required to put on the money collection bags the logo or name of the organisation and mark "This flag day has been approved by the Social Welfare Department".
"Organisers of general fund-raising activities other than flag sale should prominently display the permit at the place where the fund-raising event is held. Proper identification, for example, name cards or tags should also be provided for staff and volunteers alike, who are directly involved in the fund-raising activities", the spokesman said.
He also advised organisations holding flag days to prepare guidelines for volunteers, setting out the places and the schedule for fund-raising and the collection points for flag bags.
"Organisers should inform the Police in the case of loss of property, and seek their help when fraudulent acts, such as tampering with collection bags or unauthorised fund-raising, are found," he said.
The spokesman also said that in the case of suspected fraudulent flag day activities, people should not make any donation and should immediately report the matter to the police.
The Government has promulgated the "Reference Guide on Best Practices for Charitable Fund-raising Activities" for voluntary compliance by charitable organisations. Members of the public may browse the reference guide on SWD homepage:
www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_controlofc/sub_referenceg/.
Attached is a list of organisations for fund-raising in March 2008. The list only includes permits issued up to February 22, 2008.
Ends/Thursday, February 28, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:57
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