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The Social Welfare Department (SWD) held a seminar and workshop today (November 18) on financial management for members of the welfare sector to share experience and exchange knowledge, with a view to enhancing the financial management of non-governmental organisations (NGOs). The seminar, held at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, is part of a series of sessions following the launch in September this year of the Envisioning Programme on the Best Practice Manual (BPM) and a symposium, which aim to assist NGOs receiving the Lump Sum Grant (LSG) in implementing the BPM.
A spokesman for the SWD said that good financial planning can reduce the financial risks faced by the NGOs, support their long-term steady development, and win the trust of the service users, staff and members of the public.
At the seminar today, former President of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants Ms Susanna Chiu gave a keynote speech on corporate financial forecasts, risk management, financial and accounting management systems and internal control, actuarial and audit studies, resource development and good record keeping, as well as inspiration from the BPM. The Community Service Secretary of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, Mr Ivan Yiu, and the Chief Executive Officer of SAHK, Mr Fong Cheung-fat, also shared their experiences with members of the sector in the seminar, in which more than 200 board members and senior management of NGOs were present.
The spokesman said that the SWD has been striving to assist NGOs receiving the LSG to implement the BPM and move with the times. To address the sector's wish to share their challenges and concerns while implementing the BPM, the SWD launched a half-year-long Envisioning Programme on the BPM in mid-September to provide a platform for the welfare sector to share their experience and build up knowledge for the implementation of the BPM.
The Labour and Welfare Bureau appointed the LSG Independent Review Committee (IRC) in 2008 to assess the overall effectiveness of the LSG Subvention System. The IRC made 36 recommendations for improvement. The first recommendation was to draw up the BPM for NGOs on financial management, human resources management, corporate governance and accountability. The BPM has been implemented since July 1, 2014, with the purpose of providing a common framework for NGOs receiving the LSG to enhance their communication with stakeholders, disclosure of related information and transparency of governance.
In addition to today's seminar and workshop, the SWD will conduct three more sessions on corporate governance, human resource management, and communication in the new era and social media handling on December 7 and on January 4 and February 24 next year respectively, to give members of the welfare sector opportunities for exchanges and sharing. Board members and senior management of NGOs are welcome to participate in order to enhance corporate governance together.
Guests attending the other three sessions include member of the Oxfam Hong Kong Council, Dr Lo Chi-kin; the President of the Law Society of Hong Kong, Mr Stephen Hung; Executive Council Member of the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management, Mr Lai Kam-tong; former Assistant Government Chief Information Officer, Mr Dennis Pang; and the Founder of Stand News, Mr Tsoi Tong-hoo.
Ends/Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Issued at HKT 15:34
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