A proposal for a non-statutory code of practice for professional fund-raisers was met with criticism yesterday for failing to go far enough.
Former social welfare sector legislator Dr Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung said such companies should be told to charge a fixed amount instead of commission.
And Gloria Chan Kwong-wai, of Medecins Sans Frontieres Hong Kong, said: 'We believe there should be clearer regulations. It is not good enough to have a non-statutory code of practice only.'
She said her group had hired professional fund-raisers, partly because of cost-effectiveness.
Employees of these companies are commonly seen stopping people on busy streets and trying to persuade them to make donations.
Usually, the firm will keep 10 to 20 per cent of the donations - amounts that have raised concerns about the commercialisation of charity.
A non-statutory code of practice to regulate their activities was recommended in a consultation report released by the Law Reform Commission's charities sub-committee yesterday.