WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1984
3
MORE PEOPLE DONATE TO CHARITIES ******
SOME 1 260 CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS AND TRUSTS ARE NOW ENJOYING VARIOUS TAX AND OTHER PAYMENT EXEMPTIONS, UP FROM 670 ORGANISATIONS ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO.
+AND WE RECEIVE 10 TO 20 FRESH APPLICATIONS FOR RECOGNITION EVERY MONTH, + SAID MRS P.K. LEE, ASSESSOR OF THE CHARITABLE DONATIONS AND RETIREMENT SCHEMES SECTION OF THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT.
COMMENTING ON THIS STEADY GROWTH, SHE SAID THAT AS SOCIETY BECAME MORE AFFLUENT, MORE PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO CHARITIES.
THESE ORGANISATIONS INCLUDE RELIGIOUS BODIES, EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS, NURSERIES, HOSPITALS, CLINICS, ASSOCIATIONS FOR THE AGED AND HANDICAPPED, KAIFONG ASSOCIATIONS, SOCIAL CENTRES, CHARITABLE FOUNDATIONS AND TRUSTS.
ONCE AN INSTITUTION IS RECOGNISED AS A CHARITY, IT IS EXEMPT FROM INTEREST, PROPERTY AND PROFITS TAXES SUBJECT TO CERTAIN LIMITATIONS -- AS WELL AS BUSINESS REGISTRATION FEES, MRS LEE SAID.
+HOWEVER, THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT WILL REVIEW ITS ACTIVITIES FROM TIME TO TIME TO ENSURE THAT THE INSTITUTION HAS CARRIED OUT ITS CHARITABLE OBJECTS, SHE STRESSED.
MRS LEE SAID THAT NON-PROF IT-MAKING ORGANISATIONS ARE NOT THE SAME AS CHARITABLE BODIES.
+RECOGNITION IS GRANTED ONLY IF THE OBJECTS FOR WHICH AN ORGANISATION IS FORMED ARE WITHIN THE LEGAL MEANING OF CHARITY,
+THIS MEANING COVERS ADVANCEMENT OF RELIGION, ADVANCEMENT OF EDUCATION, RELIEF OF POVERTY AND OTHER PURPOSES OF A CHARITABLE NATURE BENEFICIAL TO THE COMMUNITY. ALSO, THEIR ACTIVITIES MUST BE DIRECTED TO THE BENEFIT OF THE COMMUNITY OR AN APPRECIABLE SECTION' OF THE COMMUNITY, SHE EXPLAINED.
+THUS AN INSTITUTION WORKING FOR THE BENEFIT OF A SMALL GROUP
OF PEOPLE WILL NOT COUNT AS A CHARITY, SHE SAID.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT INDIVIDUAL CHARITY, SUCH AS A CHARITABLE FUNDS-RAISING DRIVE BY A TELEVISION STATION, MAY ALSO GAIN RECOGNITION.
HOWEVER, BECAUSE OF THEIR TEMPORARY NATURE, THE DEPARTMENT MUST BE SATISFIED THAT THE FUNDS RAISED WOULD BE USED FOR THE STATED PURPOSES, SHE SAID.
/+ONCE AN