The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) has updated the procedures on application for recognition of tax exemption status under section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance and has updated the Tax Guide for Charitable Institutions and Trusts of a Public Character in June 2023, which contains the interpretation and practices of the IRD towards the taxation matters of charitable organizations. The purpose of this webinar is to provide insights from governance and accountability perspectives, on the content of the tax guide for charitable organizations, in hopes of helping the organizations to prevent and manage tax controversy risks by understanding and complying with the relevant tax law. Content outline: - Understanding the definition of charity from the IRD’s point of view and the relevant tax rules - Compliance procedures for charitable organizations - IRD’s current practices and review process - Potential tax risks and ways for mitigation Details of the event are as follows: Date: 29 November 2023 (Wednesday) Time: 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm Speaker:  Mr Wilson Cheng, Partner, Tax Leader, Hong Kong and Macau, EY Language: Cantonese (presentation materials in English) The webinar will be conducted online via Zoom. Target participants: Board / Committee Members, Agency Heads, Advisors, Company Secretaries, Senior Management of HKCSS Agency Members Interested parties ...

Corporate structure, governance, finance, and daily operations are all areas in which NGOs may encounter complex legal problems and uncertainties. To help NGOs manage compliance in various areas, the Council will co-organize a Sharing Session with PILnet on its Legal Health Check service and facilitate the sharing and mutual learning amongst the governing bodies of NGOs. Details of the event are as follows: Date: 30 October 2023 (Monday) Time: 2:30 pm - 4:30 pm Venue: Duke of Windsor Social Service Building, 15 Hennessy Road, Wanchai Highlights of the Sharing: - Introduction to PILnet’s Legal Health Check service - The importance of legal health checks and the experience of NGOs who have undertaken one - The existing or potential legal issues facing NGOs - Exchange of ideas on good practice in governance - Case sharing and discussion Speakers: - Ms. Annie LI, Senior Program Officer, PILnet - Mr. Raymond SIU, Operations Director, Resolve Foundation Language: Cantonese (presentation materials in English) Target participants: Board / Committee Members, Agency Heads (top priority), Advisors, Company Secretaries and Senior Management of HKCSS Agency Members operating Lump Sum Grant (LSG) services* *FREE Legal Health Check consultation for NGOs operating LSG services will be conducted by PILnet in early 2024. Enrollment priority will be given ...

To promote good practice in handling Lump Sum Grant-related complaints by NGOs’ management, the Council has invited the Chairman from Lump Sum Grant Independent Complaints Handling Committee (ICHC) to share his experience in complaint handling in relation to human resources management. Details of the event are as follows: Date: 30 August 2023 (Wednesday) Time: 10:30 am - 12:00 noon Venue: Duke of Windsor Social Service Building, 15 Hennessy Road, Wanchai Speaker: Mr. WONG Shun-yee, Albert, MH, Chairman, Lump Sum Grant Independent Complaints Handling Committee (ICHC) Language: Cantonese (presentation materials in English) Quota: 100 persons (Priority will be given to Board Members and Senior Management of NGOs) Target participants: Board / Committee Members, Agency Heads, Advisors, Company Secretaries and Senior Management of HKCSS Agency Members Interested parties please register online on or before 20 August 2023. Successful registrants will be notified by email with tour details on 21 August 2023. For enquiries, please contact the Project team at 2876 2440 ...

With an aim to provide NGOs with the latest legal and regulatory requirements related to anti-money laundering/counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) as well as tools to address the risks of money laundering/terrorist financing (ML/TF), the Council has collaborated with Mayer Brown and BNP Paribas to develop the Anti-money Laundering/Counter-financing of Terrorism Due Diligence Toolkit for Hong Kong NGOs.  The Toolkit includes information on implementing an AML/CFT risk management framework that is commensurate to the scale and scope of the NGO’s operation, guidelines on due diligence according to different types of donations, a non-exhaustive checklist for identifying and detecting ML/TF risks, a due diligence checklist on donors, partners and beneficiaries, and a segregation of duties checklist ...

In view of the challenges and opportunities arising from the ageing population, more and more NGOs have embarked on their gerontechnology initiatives with a view to addressing the ageing issue and facilitating the development and application of gerontechnology in Hong Kong.  To allow NGO board members and senior management to better understand the latest development and landscape of gerontechnology, the Council is going to organize a guided tour and networking session to the first Gerontech Education and Rental Service in Hong Kong. Through the visitation to two service centres in Fotan and Shatin, participants will not only understand how gerontechnology plays an important role in facilitating and realizing “ageing-in-place”, but also exchange thoughts and explore collaborations on applications of gerontechnology for NGOs’ future service development. Details of the event are as follows: Date: 7 September 2023 (Thursday) Time: 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm Venues: - Gerontech Cleaning and Maintenance Service Centre (Fotan) - Jockey Club “age at home” Gerontech Education and Rental Service Centre (Shatin) Highlights of the Visit: - Introduction of the Jockey Club “age at home” Gerontech Education and Rental Service - Guided Tour: Gerontech Cleaning and Maintenance Service Centre (Fotan) - Guided Tour: Jockey Club “age at home” Gerontech ...