Policy experts urge China to modernize philanthropy using Hong Kong's model

Leading policy experts have called for mainland China to leverage Hong Kong's mature charitable sector and the Greater Bay Area integration plan to modernise its philanthropic landscape.

Speaking at the Hong Kong Jockey Club's Philanthropy for Better Cities Forum, the specialists identified creating a favourable legal framework and overhauling social services as urgent priorities for the next decade.

Learning from Hong Kong's expertise

Wang Zhenyao, a former senior official who spent more than 22 years at the Ministry of Civil Affairs, urged Beijing to draw on Hong Kong's experience to "drive a major upgrade of the entire social service sector". Wang, who currently serves as founding dean of the China Philanthropy Research Institute at Beijing Normal University, suggested that mainland charitable organisations could learn from Hong Kong to increase their professional expertise.

The Greater Bay Area city cluster plan could serve as a catalyst to boost the sector, panellists said.

Legal reforms needed

Jin Jinping, associate professor at Peking University Law School, emphasised the need for structural reform. "We need to create a more favourable legal and policy environment for the development of charity organisations: that is good laws and sound governance," Jin told the panel.

The panel discussion examined China's philanthropic landscape, with each speaker outlining their priorities for the sector over the next decade. The forum brought together policy experts to assess how regional integration and institutional learning could strengthen charitable work across mainland China.

Source: South China Morning Post