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Fifty-three organisations had been granted permission to raise funds during May, a Social Welfare Department spokesman said today (April 28).
The organisations will sell flags, badges or tokens, or place donation boxes in designated public places.
Special arrangements apply on May 10 and 24 when three organisations will conduct flag sales on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and the New Territories respectively.
Flag selling hours are between 7am and 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 Social Welfare Department.
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 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 the 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 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 for 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 fundraising, 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 of the charitable organisations. Members of the public may browse the Reference Guide on Social Welfare Department homepage www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_pubsvc/page_controlofc/sub_referenceg/.
Attached please find a list of organisations for fund raising in May. The list includes only permits issued up to April 25.
Ends/Monday, April 28, 2008
Issued at HKT 14:43
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