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LCQ19: Regulation of activities for soliciting donations from the public

     Following is a question by the Dr Hon Elizabeth Quat and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr James Lau, in the Legislative Council today (June 27):
 
Question:
 
     It has been reported that in recent months, some people have launched an online activity for soliciting donations in order to raise fund to support them in meeting the legal and administrative expenses, etc. that will be incurred in pursuing an investigation into an incident. Regarding the regulation of such activities, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) whether the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) will, on its own initiative or upon receiving reports, conduct investigations to ascertain if such activities for soliciting donations involve the tax obligations under the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Cap. 112), and take follow-up actions; if IRD will not, of the reasons for that;
 
(2) whether the law enforcement departments will, on their own initiative or upon receiving reports, conduct investigations to ascertain if such activities for soliciting donations involve (i) infiltration into Hong Kong by foreign forces and their money or (ii) money laundering activities, and take follow-up actions; if the law enforcement departments will not, of the reasons for that; and
 
(3) whether the law enforcement departments will, on their own initiative or upon receiving reports, conduct investigations to ascertain if such activities for soliciting donations involve the offence of champerty, and take follow-up actions; if the law enforcement departments will not, of the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     Upon consultation with relevant bureaux and departments, our consolidated reply to the questions is as follows:
 
(1) Pursuant to the Inland Revenue Ordinance (IRO) (Cap. 112), the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) charges profits tax on any person carrying on a trade, profession or business in Hong Kong in respect of his assessable profits. The person should declare his assessable profits in his tax return. Under the secrecy provisions in the IRO, the IRD cannot disclose the information of any person and will not comment on individual cases.
 
(2) The Government and our law enforcement agencies (LEAs) spare no effort in combatting money laundering. The Organised and Serious Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 455) stipulates that where a person knows or suspects that any property in whole or in part directly or indirectly represents any person’s proceeds of an indictable offence, he shall as soon as it is reasonable for him to do so disclose that knowledge or suspicion, together with any matter on which that knowledge or suspicion is based, to the Joint Financial Intelligence Unit (JFIU) by way of submitting a suspicious transaction report (STR). The JFIU will analyse all STRs submitted, and refer to relevant LEAs for follow-up as appropriate.
 
(3) If the Police discover that someone is suspected of committing champerty, they will conduct investigation and follow-up. Should a member of the public suspect that someone has committed champerty, he or she should file a report to the Police.
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East Asia

CHP reminds public on precautions against heat stroke during very hot weather

     The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (June 27) reminded members of the public, particularly those undertaking outdoor activities, to take heed of necessary measures against heat stroke and sunburn in very hot weather.

     “The public should carry and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration while engaging in outdoor activities,” a spokesman for the CHP said.

     “Those engaged in strenuous outdoor activities should avoid beverages containing caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as well as alcohol, as they speed up water loss through the urinary system,” the spokesman explained.

     “The obese, the sick, including those with heart disease or high blood pressure, the old and the young are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. They should pay special attention,” the spokesman added.

     The public should adopt the following precautions:
 

  • Wear loose and light-coloured clothing to reduce heat absorption and facilitate sweat evaporation and heat dissipation;
  • Avoid vigorous exercise and prolonged activities like hiking or trekking as heat, sweating and exhaustion place additional demands on the physique;
  • Perform outdoor activities in the morning or late afternoon;
  • For indoor activities, open all windows, use a fan or use air-conditioning to maintain good ventilation; and
  • Reschedule work to cooler times of the day.

     If working in a hot environment is inevitable, introduce shade in the workplace where practicable, and start work slowly and pick up the pace gradually. Get into a cool area for rest at regular intervals to allow the body to recuperate.

     The public should also note the latest and the forecast Ultraviolet (UV) Index released by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO). When the UV Index remains high (6 or above):
 
  • Minimise direct exposure of the skin and the eyes to sunlight;
  • Wear loose long-sleeved clothing made of close-woven fabrics;
  • Wear a wide brim hat or use an umbrella;
  • Seek a shaded area or put on UV-blocking sunglasses;
  • Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen lotion with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or above. Apply liberally and reapply after swimming or sweating; and
  • While using DEET-containing insect repellents for personal protection against mosquito-borne diseases, apply sunscreen first, then insect repellent.

     If symptoms develop, such as dizziness, headache, nausea, shortness of breath or confusion, rest and seek help immediately, and seek medical advice as soon as possible.

     The public may get more information from the DH’s Health Education Hotline (2833 0111), heat stroke page and UV radiation page; the HKO’s Dial-a-Weather (1878 200), latest weather and forecast, UV Index and weather information for hiking and mountaineering; and press releases of the Labour Department on precautions against heat stroke for outdoor workers and their employers when the Very Hot Weather Warning is in force. read more

East Asia