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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1992
SAID: "THE DIRECTOR
MR CHAN
WILL ONLY APPROVE SUCH APPLICATIONS IF, IN HIS VIEW, THE FUND-RAISING ACTIVITY IS FOR BONA-FIDE SCHOOL PURPOSES OR IS OF A CHARITABLE NATURE."
ADDITIONALLY, MR CHAN SAID, FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES BY SCHOOLS INVOLVING THE COLLECTION OF MONEY IN PUBLIC PLACES ARE SUBJECT TO AN ANNUAL QUOTA THROUGH THE ISSUANCE OF A PUBLIC SUBSCRIPTION PERMIT ADMINISTERED BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE.
"FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES INVOLVING PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT REQUIRE SEPARATE APPROVAL BY THE RELEVANT AUTHORITIES, +1 HE ADDED.
MR CHAN TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT A TOTAL OF 410 APPLICATIONS FOR FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES IN SCHOOLS HAD BEEN RECEIVED IN THE PAST THREE YEARS, OF WHICH ONLY THREE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL.
TURNING TO THE MONITORING MACHINERY, MR CHAN SAID TO ENSURE THAT FUNDS ARE USED FOR THEIR SPECIFIED PURPOSES, THE SCHOOL IS REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A FINANCIAL STATEMENT TO THE DISTRICT EDUCATION OFFICER CONCERNED FOR EXAMINATION WITHIN TWO MONTHS FOLLOWING EACH FUND-RAISING ACTIVITY.
WHERE COLLECTIONS ARE ORGANISED FOR APPROVED SCHOOL PURPOSES, FUNDS SO COLLECTED, AS WELL AS ALL EXPENDITURE, MUST BE PROPERLY REFLECTED IN THE SCHOOL'S ACCOUNTS WHICH ARE EXAMINED BY THE AUDIT SECTION OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.
IN THE CASE OF FUNDS COLLECTED FOR APPROVED CHARITABLE PURPOSES, OFFICIAL RECEIPTS MUST BE OBTAINED FROM THE ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED.
SCHOOLS ARE ALSO REQUIRED TO DISPLAY THESE RECEIPTS ON THEIR NOTICE BOARDS FOR A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME AND RETAIN THEM FOR RECORD PURPOSE THEREAFTER.
MR CHAN ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY FORMAL COMPLAINTS IN CONNECTION WITH SCHOOL FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. BUT HE WAS AWARE OF A RECENT COMPLAINT LODGED WITH OMELCO AGAINST A CHARITABLE ORGANISATION WHICH HAD BEEN THE BENEFICIARY OF AN APPROVED SCHOOL FUND-RAISING ACTIVITY.
BY THE NOR THE
"THE ALLEGATION WAS NOT DIRECTED AT THE WAY THE FUND-RAISING ACTIVITY WAS ORGANISED BUT THE SUBSEQUENT USE OF THE PROCEEDS CHARITABLE ORGANISATION OVER WHICH NEITHER THE SCHOOL GOVERNMENT HAD ANY CONTROL," HE SAID.
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