Editorial | Hong Kong charities can ill-afford to break public trust
- Concern over donations to a decades-old city Christian NGO reveals the need for greater transparency from such groups
Charity is one of the most resilient sectors of Hong Kong’s economy. It is also pivotal to the city’s reputation for compassion for people at home and abroad in times of dire need and distress.
Charity is dependent on public and corporate support. Without effective regulation and transparency, this support is founded on trust.
It would be a heavy blow to the sector, and the causes it helps sustain, if that trust is seen to be abused or not respected, prompting donors to keep their hands in their pockets.
We are reminded of this by reports of allegations concerning HK$50 million in donations raised to support the operations of a decades-old Hong Kong Christian charity. Supporters, students and staff of the Christian Zheng Sheng Association have been shocked by the arrests of four directors and warrants for three others including the principal and one of the founders, following alleged transfers of funds to overseas bank accounts.
The non-profit association was set up almost 40 years ago to help drug addicts. Chui Hong-sheung, a spokesman for a subsidiary, the Christian Zheng Sheng College, has said the case involves a “misunderstanding” that will eventually be clarified.
