The 2024 Hong Kong International Charity Forum, organized by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and co organized by the Public Welfare and Charity Research Institute, will be held for two consecutive days at the Palace Museum in Hong Kong starting from the 9th. The theme of this forum is "Achieving fruitful results through public welfare", and about 100 well-known speakers are invited to share their insights. At the opening ceremony held on the 9th, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam delivered a speech via video. Li Jiachao stated that Hong Kong's charity industry has a long and thriving history. There are over 10000 charitable organizations in Hong Kong that are exempt from taxes. According to the latest data, the total amount of recognized charitable donations deducted from profits tax and salaries tax exceeds HKD 14 billion annually. Li Jiachao stated that the SAR government is committed to promoting Hong Kong as a global charity center. The vision of the SAR government is to provide philanthropists with various tools and platforms, allowing them to manage and increase their wealth while using resources for the most effective social projects. He mentioned that the development of local charity is closely related to attracting global family offices and asset owners to settle in Hong Kong. At present, there are 2700 family offices in Hong Kong, and it is expected that related businesses will continue to grow. The SAR government is pleased to see wealthy families actively encouraging the next generation to engage in good deeds and planning arrangements for the inheritance of family wealth and charitable work. The Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Li Zihou, stated that the Hong Kong International Charity Forum has entered its fourth edition, inviting over 100 speakers and more than 2000 attendees. He hopes that all parties can brainstorm and share their visions to bring sustainable impact to charity and public welfare. Li Zihou stated that in the past few years, the number of institutions investing in public welfare and charity has significantly increased, especially in the Asian region. It is necessary to establish a charity operation model that is suitable for local culture, unleash potential, and effectively combine the capital market with charity to create greater benefits. He described the Hong Kong Jockey Club as a world leading charity donor, donating approximately $1.3 billion to recognized charitable organizations last year. In the future, it will align with the vision of the SAR government to build Hong Kong into an international charity hub. It is reported that this forum will focus on how to achieve practical results through charitable donations, explore the synergies that can be generated between public welfare and the capital market, and discuss the impact of socio-economic and geopolitical factors on charitable donations. (New Society)