Government grants 57 organisations permission to raise funds
Updated at 4.51pm: The government has granted 57 organisations permission to raise funds during December, a Social Welfare Department (SWD) spokesman said on Friday.
The organisations will sell flags, tokens or similar items, and place donation boxes in designated public places.
Special arrangements apply on December 4 and December 29, where three organisations will sell flags on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and the New Territories, respectively, the spokesman said.
The SWD has also been allocated a non-Saturday flag day - which is a school holiday - on Wednesday, December 29.
Any organisation planning to hold activities involving the collection of money or donations, or sale of badges, or similar articles for charitable purposes should apply for a permit from the Social Welfare Department, he said.
The spokesman appealed to organisers to take precautions against 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.
'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 added.
