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The Social Welfare Department reminds the public that the deadline for submitting views and comments to the consultation on the proposed mechanism for monitoring charitable fund-raising is September 30.

In response to public concerns, the Government is working on a voluntary system to better monitor charitable fund-raising activities.

Under the proposed system, a Reference Guide for Charities on Best Practices for Fund-raising Activities would be drawn up. As an aid to raising standards of transparency and public accountability, the guide would include best practices in the areas of donors' rights, fund raising and accounting / auditing requirements.

Charities which voluntarily undertake to comply with the provisions of the reference guide could apply to be listed in a public register maintained by the Social Welfare Department.

Any complaints against listed charities for failure to comply with the best practices enumerated in the reference guide would be considered by the department, which could remove the charities from the register if the complaints were substantiated.

The register would be posted on the Social Welfare Department website for the information of the public. Comments from charities or the public on these proposals are welcome.

To download the consultation paper, see http://www.info.gov.hk/swd/html_tc/whatsnew/index.html. To obtain hard copies, visit the Social Welfare Department at Room 920, 9/F, Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong.

For enquiries, call 2832 4376.

Views and comments should be submitted in writing by September 30 at the latest. Please send letters to 30/F Wu Chung House, Lotteries Fund Projects Section, Social Welfare Department, 213 Queen's Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong, or grlfp@swd.gov.hk

End/Saturday, September 27, 2003

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