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Accountability
and Management of Social Service Organizations
The mandate of the social service organizations comes
from the public. The public also affirm them by extending direct or indirect financial
support to NGOs, which can include full or partial exemption from taxes.
In return for this support, NGOs pledge to pursue activities that meet
a public or community need rather than the private profit-making interests
of owners or stockholders. They are accountable to the public and must
be cautious in utilizing public resources. There are Boards of Directors
(or Executive Committees) in all social service organizations to make
policies, set directions, monitor daily operations, oversee human resources
and financial matters. These Boards compose of members from the public
or even government departments. An organization exercises good governance
when it has an internal system of checks and balances that ensures the
public interest is served. Most organizations have adopted Service Quality
Standards, pledging to answer any enquiries and expressions of opinions.
In addition to be accountable to funding bodies, social service organizations
are transparent and answerable to the public through provision of the
following information:
 Registration
status
Mission
and objectives
Composition
of Board of Directors (or similar organization)
Up-dated
financial report
Source
of Donations and incomes (donors' request for anonymity will be respected)
Business
plan and direction
Annual
report (the above information usually included in the Annual Report)
 Regarding this topic HKCSS joint ICAC, The Hong Kong Jockey Club, and Community Chest hold a Seminar on "Better Governance and Internal Control - Reducing Risks and Gaining Public Trust" on 6 October, 2009. Speakers' notes can download from here:
 Principal Corruption Prevention Officer, ICAC - Mr Nelson CHAN (Chinese Version Only)
Executive Committee Deputy Chairman, Community Chest - Mr Billy KONG, BBS, MH, JP (Chinese Version Only)
Chairperson of Public Sector Committee, CPA Australia Hong Kong China Division and Director of Finance & Administration, YWCA - Ms Alice WONG (Chinese Version Only)
Chief Executive Officer (Licensing), Television and Entertainment Licensing Authority - Mr William CHAN (Chinese Version Only)
Views on Charity Accountability
Mr Lee Ming Kwai, Former Commissioner of Police: understands how donations are used from financial reports(WMV, Chinese version only)
Mr Leo Ku, Founder of Leo Ku Children Medical Charitable Foundation: understands the works of charities and join volunteer works(WMV, Chinese version only)
Dr. Ko Wing Man, Chairman, Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society: good governance and efficiency (WMV, Chinese version only)
Ms Connie Lau, Chief Executive, The Hong Kong Consumer Council :expects higher standard of charity transparency (WMV, Chinese version only)
Miss Kelly Chen, Founder of Kelly Chen Children Education Fund: knows more about the service beneficiaries (WMV, Chinese version only)
Ms Teresa Au, Head of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability, Asia Pacific Region, HSBC: HSBC Supports Charity Accountability (WMV, Chinese version only)
Acknowledgment:: 
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