Flag day activities have been adversely affected due to social unrest across the city in the past months.  NGOs faced tremendous difficulties in deploying volunteers to do flag selling in public places, and as a result, there has been a significant decline in flag day income.  In some cases, flag selling activities have to be cancelled due to safety concern.

Under the existing mechanism for allocating flag days, NGO applicants have to meet the benchmark set for average net proceeds in order to demonstrate their fundraising abilities.  HKCSS therefore wrote to SWD in Dec 2019 to request for their consideration in granting exemption to the affected NGOs, so that they can continue to submit flag day applications in coming years.

SWD responded that they understand the difficulties NGOs encountered.  If applications from these NGOs are received, they will follow the well-established practice to assess these applications on individual case merits, taking into account whether the net proceeds are adversely affected by uncontrollable factors arising from special circumstances.  They will also consult the Lotteries Fund Advisory Committee.