XN000022-1985-07-24 — Page 24

SAY, JULY 24, 1985

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LAWS ADEQUATE TO DETER FRAUDULENT FUND-RAISING

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THERE WERE VERY FEW CASES OF FRAUDULENT FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES, AND THE LAWS AGAINST SUCH OFFENCES WERE ADEQUATE TO PROVIDE A DETERRENT EFFECT, THE SECRETARY FOR ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES AND INFORMATION, THE HON ADOLF HSU, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP, MR HSU SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT, THEREFORE, DID NOT CONSIDER IT NECESSARY, AT THIS STAGE, TO IMPOSE AN ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM TO SUPERVISE EACH AND EVERY PROJECT BEFORE AND AFTER THE EVENT.

+AFTER ALL, DONATIONS ARE MADE ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS, AND THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE SEEN TO BE DISCOURAGING BONA FIDE CHARITABLE BODIES FROM SEEKING PUBLIC DONATIONS, HE SAID.

ANY ORGANISATION WHICH TRIED TO RAISE FUNDS FROM THE PUBLIC UNDER THE GUISE OF CHARITY COMMITTED AN OFFENCE UNDER SECTIONS 17 AND 18 OF THE THEFT ORDINANCE, CAP. 210 AND THE POLICE WOULD ACT ON ANY RESPONSIBLE COMPLAINT, HE SAID.

ANY PERSON FOUND GUILTY OF THIS OFFENCE WAS LIABLE ON CONVICTION UPON INDICTMENT TO IMPRISONMENT FOR 10 YEARS.

IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, HE ADDED, THE POLICE HAD DEALT WITH VERY FEW CASES RELATING TO FRAUDULENT FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES.

GIVING DETAILS OF SOME OF THE CONTROLS EXERCISED OVER VARIOUS TYPES OF FUND-RAISING ACTIVITIES, MR HSU SAID THAT THE SAFEGUARDS WERE, HOWEVER, NOT FOOL-PROOF" AGAINST FRAUDULENCE, WHICH COULD TAKE A VARIETY OF FORMS.

+ IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS, IT IS STILL LEFT TO INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO BE ON THEIR GUARD WHEN BEING APPROACHED BY DOUBTFUL AGENCIES, HE SAID.

A LIST OF APPROVED CHARITABLE INSTITUTIONS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE FOR TAX EXEMPTION PURPOSES, AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MIGHT REFER TO IT, AND CHECK OUT THE CHARACTER OF A PARTICULAR ORGANISATION SEEKING DONATIONS, HE SAID.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, HE ADDED, SHOULD REPORT TO THE POLICE ON DETECTION OF ANY SIGN OF FRAUD AND DECEIT.

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