53 groups to raise funds in April
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    Fifty-three organisations have been granted permission to raise funds during April, a Social Welfare Department (SWD) spokesman said today (March 30).

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

     Special arrangements apply on April 8, April 19 and April 29, when three organisations will conduct flag sale 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 SWD 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.

     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 display prominently 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.

     The spokesman 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.

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

Flag Days
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Date        Region            Organisation

1.4(Sat)    Territory-wide    Breakthrough Limited                  

8.4(Sat)    Hong Kong Island  Aberdeen Kai-Fong
                              Welfare Association
                              Limited
                 
8.4(Sat)    Kowloon           Hope Worldwide Limited      

8.4(Sat)    New Territories   Yan Oi Tong Limited
 
15.4(Sat)   Territory-wide    Mission to New Arrivals
                              Limited

19.4(Wed)   Hong Kong Island  Pok Oi Hospital

19.4(Wed)   Kowloon           Hans Andersen Club
                              Limited

19.4(Wed)   New Territories   Chung Sing Church
                              Limited
 
22.4(Sat)   Territory-wide    Baptist Oi Kwan Social
                              Service

29.4(Sat)   Hong Kong Island  Open Door Ministries
                              Limited

29.4(Sat)   Kowloon           Hong Kong Society for
                              the Protection of
                              Children
29.4(Sat)   New Territories   Employees' Safety,
                              Training and
                              Rehabilitation Services
                              Limited


Other General Fund-raising Activities
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Date       Organisation
1-30.4     Tuen Mun Hospital

1-30.4     Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital

1-30.4     Hospital Authority Charitable Foundation

1-30.4     MacLehose Medical Rehabilitation Centre

1-30.4     Prince of Wales Hospital

1-30.4     Tseung Kwan O Hospital

1-30.4     North District Hospital

1-30.4     Cheshire Home, Chung Hom Kok

1-30.4     Shatin Hospital

1-30.4     Princess Margaret Hospital

1-30.4     Make-A-Wish Foundation of Hong Kong
           Limited

1-30.4     Caritas Medical Centre

1-30.4     ADPL Social Service Centre Limited

1-30.4     Suicide Prevention Services

1-30.4     Yan Chai Hospital

1-30.4     Grantham Hospital

1-30.4     Lok Chi Association Limited

1-30.4     The Hong Kong Life Saving Society

1-30.4     Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital

1-30.4     Bradbury Hospice

1-30.4     Haven of Hope Hospital

1-30.4     Ruttonjee & Tang Shiu Kin Hospitals

1-30.4     Wong Chuk Hang Hospital

1-30.4     The University of Hong Kong

1-30.4     Castle Peak Hospital

1-30.4     Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital

1-30.4     The Lok Sin Tong Benevolent Society, Kowloon

1-30.4     United Christian Hospital

1-30.4     Queen Elizabeth Hospital

1-2, 4-5, 8-9, 11-13, 15-16,     Hong Kong Red Cross
18-23, 25, 27 & 29-30.4.

2.4     1st Step Association

2.4     Concern Group for Pets

2, 9, 16, 23 & 30.4     Chinese YMCA of Hong Kong

2, 9, 23 & 30.4     Vajradhara Buddhist Meditation Centre Limited

3-28.4
(Mon-Fri)     Rehabaid Society

4.4     International Christian Concern Limited

5, 9 & 16.4     Hong Kong AIDS Memorial Quilt Project Limited

8-9.4     The Raleigh International (Hong Kong) Limited

8 & 10.4     Joyful (Mental Health) Foundation

10-11.4     Hong Kong Campus Crusade for Christ Limited

16.4     Hong Kong Hymn Society Limited

Ends/Thursday, March 30, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:40

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