The Social Service Department of Hong Kong-Macau Conference (HKMC) mobilized 550 volunteers to go to the streets in Hong Kong on July 20, 2016, for a fundraising campaign. A total of 300,000 Hong Kong dollars (about 38,000 USD) was gathered by these volunteers, among whom the oldest was more than 80 years old.
Flag Day has been a tradition in Hong Kong since the 1950s. Government-recognized charitable organizations may file for permission to solicit donations on the streets from passers-by once a year. If the permission is granted, a date, usually a Wednesday or Saturday, will be designated to the applicant organization to carry on the fundraising activities.
The charitable organization mobilizes as many volunteers and supporters as possible to solicit donations from 7:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nowadays the solicitor places a sticker, usually printed with the logo of the charitable organization, onto every donor’s shirt. The sticker evolved from a small flag of the past, hence the name Flag Day.
HKMC operates several senior citizen centers and other community services. The fund raised will help to improve the lives of those served by the Adventist members.