LEGISLATORS have asked the Government to speed up moves to monitor fund-raisers who organise charity variety shows for television. In June last year, members of the Welfare Panel asked the Government to restrict the percentage of donations used to cover the administrative costs of such events. But the Assistant Secretary for Health and Welfare, Miss Eva To Hau-yin, told members yesterday that the Government was still studying the issue. Deputy panel convenor Mr Fred Li Wah-ming said members were given the same answer more than nine months ago, and the Government should set a firm timetable for completing the review. Convenor Mr Hui Yin-fat, who is also director of the Hongkong Council of Social Services, said it was a grave problem and there should be no more delay in finding a solution. ''The Council of Social Services has run a hotline to answer public inquiries on this issue, and about half the 20-odd phone calls received each day are from people who are asked to donate money to dubious organisations,'' he said. Mr Li said that only a certain proportion of donations should go towards administrative costs, and the accounts of charity organisations should be carefully audited and published in newspapers. Responding to pressure from members, Miss To said the Government was considering setting a legal ceiling on costs, but it was difficult to work out the costs for television charity shows.
