China News Agency, Hong Kong, August 13 (Wang Laiyi and Zhang Ruisi) The Centre for Asian Philanthropy and Society released an index (Doing Good Index 2018) on the 13th, showing that Hong Kong’s philanthropy showed an overall trend in Asia. good development trend.
According to reports, the index surveyed 1,579 Asian social charitable organizations and 80 charitable industry experts. According to the four aspects of regulations, taxation and fiscal policy, ecosystem and resource acquisition, the development of philanthropy in 15 Asian countries and regions is divided into 4 steps, hoping to promote the development of philanthropy in Asia.
The index shows that Japan, Singapore and Taiwan are in the first tier, and philanthropy is developing well; Hong Kong, South Korea, Thailand and other countries and regions are in the second tier, which means that philanthropy is developing well. However, the study pointed out that no economy has reached its full potential, and there is much room for improvement.
According to the survey, up to 97% of Hong Kong charities have established a board of directors, of which 87% of board members have corporate experience, and 64% of Hong Kong charities recruit volunteers.
Chen Qizong, chairman of Asia Society Hong Kong Center, pointed out that the people of Hong Kong are generally generous, and some of them are low-key philanthropists like Tin Ka-ping, who have devoted their life to education and become models for young entrepreneurs; more philanthropists are based on their personal interests in the fields of art and music. Donations will greatly promote the development of related industries.
However, Hong Kong people’s lack of trust in social charitable organizations has become the primary factor influencing individuals to donate to charitable organizations. According to the survey, 49% of Hong Kong people believe that local charities are credible, while the rest of Hong Kong people are uncertain or negative.
Luther Shapiro, CEO of Asia Center for Philanthropy and Society, pointed out that the current problems in the development of charitable causes in Hong Kong mainly include that Hong Kong charitable organizations have not yet formulated a sound registration and supervision plan; It needs to be improved; the SAR government needs to cooperate more with the charitable acts of the people.
She suggested that the SAR government could simplify the procedures for setting up charitable organizations in the future; strengthen the capacity building of charitable organizations; improve the information transparency of tax-exempt charities;
Chen Qizong believes that the charity industry in Hong Kong lacks supervision over the flow of donations. In the future, the donation target should be clearly defined and the donations should be effectively used, so that the donations can really reach the hands of those who need them. (over)