63 groups to raise funds in March
*********************************

    Sixty-three organisations have been granted permission to raise funds during March, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) spokesman said today (February 27).

     The organisations will sell flags, tokens or similar items, or place donation boxes in designated public places.

     Special arrangements apply on March 4 and March 18, when three organisations will conduct sales of flags on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and the New Territories respectively.

     With the endorsement of the Lotteries Fund Advisory Committee, flag sales have been allowed from 7am to 12.30pm on the allocated flag days starting from September 2005.

      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 http://www.swd.gov.hk/en/index/site_whatsnew/ and on the ESD Life website http://www.esdlife.com.

      People are welcome to call the department's hotline at 2343 2255 or department headquarters at 2832 4311 for enquiries.

      The spokesman urged people to visit these websites 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.

      "Fund-raising volunteers should display the permit, or in the case of mobile fund-raising, carry copies of the permit for inspection upon request," he said.

      The spokesman also advised organisations to prepare guidelines for volunteers, setting out the places and the schedule for fund-raising and the collection points for 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 selling, are found," he said.

      Permits were given to the following organisations for fund raising in March:

Flag Day
---------

Event Date            Organisations
----------            -------------

March 4  #(HKI)       The Hong Kong Society for
                      Rehabilitation

March 4  #(KLN)       Operation Dawn Limited

March 4  #(NT)        End Child Sexual Abuse
                      Foundation

March 11              Hong Kong Federation of
                      Handicapped Youth

March 18 #(HKI)       Hong Kong Neuro-Muscular
                      Disease Association

March 18 #(KLN)       International Church of
                      the Foursquare Gospel-Hong Kong
                      District Limited

March 18 #(NT)        Asbury Methodist Social
                      Service

March 25              The Society for the Aid
                      and Rehabilitation
                      of Drug Abusers

#Regional flag day

Public Subscription
-------------------

Event Date            Organisation
-----------           -------------

March 1-3&6           Harmonevergreen Service
                      Association Limited

March 1,3,6,8,10,     Everbright Concern Action
13,15,17,20,          Limited
22,24,27,29 & 31

March 1,3,6,13,15,    Hong Kong Society for the Aged
17,22,24,27 & 31

March 1 & 4-12        Helping Hand

March 1-9             The Lok Sin Tong Benevolent
                      Society, Kowloon

March 1-31            Castle Peak Hospital

March 1-31            The University of Hong Kong

March 1-31            Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole
                      Hospital

March 1-31            United Christian Hospital

March 1-31            Ruttonjee & Tang Shiu Kin
                      Hospitals

March 1-31            Queen Elizabeth Hospital

March 1-31            Airport Authority

March 1-31            Kadoorie Farm and Botanic
                      Garden Corporation

March 1-31            Tuen Mun Hospital

March 1-31            Duchess of Kent Children's
                      Hospital

March 1-31            Pok Oi Hospital

March 1-31            Hospital Authority Charitable
                      Foundation

March 1-31            MacLehose Medical
                      Rehabilitation Centre

March 1-31            Prince of Wales Hospital

March 1-31            Tseung Kwan O Hospital

March 1-31            Rehabaid Society
(Mon-Fri)

March 1-31            North District Hospital

March 1-31            Cheshire Home, Chung Hom Kok

March 1-31            Shatin Hospital-Hospital
                      Authority

March 1-31            Princess Margaret Hospital

March 1-31            Make-A-Wish Foundation of
                      Hong Kong Limited

March 1-31            Caritas Medical Centre

March 1-31            ADPL Social Service Centre
                      Limited

March 1-31            Suicide Prevention Services

March 1-31            Yan Chai Hospital

March 1-31            Grantham Hospital

March 1-31            Hospital Authority Charitable
                      Foundation

March 1-31            Lok Chi Association Limited

March 1-31            The Hong Kong Life Saving
                      Society

March 1-31            Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital

March 1-31            Bradbury Hospice

March 1-31            Haven of Hope Hospital

March 1-31            Wong Chuk Hang Hospital
                      - Hospital Authority

March 3-7             Her Fund Limited

March 4-5,11-12,      The Federation of New
18-19 & 25-26         Territories Youth
                      Foundation Limited

March 4-5,11-12,      Vajradhara Buddhist Meditation
18-19 & 25-26         Centre Limited

March 4-5 &           Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra
24-25                 Limited

March 5,12,           Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong
19 & 26                  

March 7               Aberdeen Kai-fong Welfare
                      Association Limited

March 9               Yan Oi Tong Limited

March 10-11           Chinese Christian Herald
                      Crusades Limited

March 12              Hong Kong Kidney Foundation
                      Limited

March 12              The Kowloon Tong Church of
                      the Chinese Christian and
                      Missionary Alliance

March 17-19           The Hong Kong Ballet Limited

March 17-19           Sowers Action

March 17-19           Hong Kong Alzheimer's Disease
                      Association

March 18              Wah Fu Swatow Christian Church
                      Limited

March 19              World Wide Fund for Nature
                      Hong Kong

March 19              Society for the Prevention of
                      Cruelty to Animals (Hong Kong)

March 26              Action for Reach Out

Ends/Monday, February 27, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:03

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