Charitable organisations wishing to hold flag days between April 2021 and March 2022 are invited to apply to the Social Welfare Department (SWD) between April 15 and May 14 this year.

     To enable more organisations to solicit donations through flag sales, 28 flag days in 2021-22 will be assigned as regional flag days so that three organisations can sell flags concurrently on those days, one each on Hong Kong Island, in Kowloon and in the New Territories. There will also be 28 territory-wide flag days to be held in the year.

     An SWD spokesman said today (April 15) that applicant organisations must be bona-fide non-profit-making organisations exempt from tax under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap.112) and, after their registration for tax exemption, have organised charitable activities in each of the past three years. Applicant organisations should refer to the eligibility criteria as detailed in the "Explanatory Notes for Application for Flag Days in 2021-22".

     "Flag day applications will be considered by the Lotteries Fund Advisory Committee according to factors including the organisation's integrity and management capability; the nature, value and standard of its existing services; its financial need; and its ability to organise a flag day," the spokesman said.

     The application form for flag days together with the "Explanatory Notes for Application for Flag Days in 2021-22" can be downloaded from the SWD's website at www.swd.gov.hk or be obtained from the Lotteries Fund Projects Section of the SWD at Rooms 3601-02, 36/F, Sunlight Tower, 248 Queen's Road East, Wan Chai, Hong Kong from today to 6pm on May 14 this year.
     
     The completed application form together with the required documents should reach the department at the above address by 6pm on May 14 this year. Late applications will not be considered.

     "Applicant organisations will be informed of the results around October this year," the spokesman added.

     Enquiries can be made by telephone to 2832 4318 or 2832 4301, or by fax to 2838 0441, or by email to eolf2@swd.gov.hk.

Ends/Wednesday, April 15, 2020
Issued at HKT 11:45

NNNN