Message from the Chairman of the HKIE Benevolent Fund
To support and help those HKIE members, past members as well as their immediate families who have fallen upon hard times with financial needs, the Institution set up the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers Benevolent Fund in 1993 to provide assistance to them. On the expiry of the term of that Benevolent Fund, a new HKIE Benevolent Fund was set up in September 2014. Ir Dr Alex CHAN, Ir Dr Andrew CHAN and myself are currently the Trustees of the Fund.
Throughout these years, the Trustees of the Fund considered every application on a case-by-case basis to help those who are in need. As always, we react speedily and with compassion to all applications. With recent situation of the economy, it is anticipated that application for financial assistance from the Fund may increase in the coming year. To meet the funding needs under this circumstance, we would appeal for your generous donations to the Fund.
For your reference, I would list out the Guidelines for application for the Fund as below.
- The applicant must be a HKIE member, a past member or his/her immediate family. Each application is assessed solely on its own merit and the decision of the Trustees shall be final.
- Applications must be made in writing on the HKIE designated application form and to be accompanied by a declaration listing out the financial situation including details of all assets and liabilities, income and expenditure in the family, with the amount of support requested. An explanation of why public assistance is not adequate is also required. The application form is obtainable via the HKIE website or through the Secretariat at benevolent@hkie.org.hk.
- Where necessary, the applicant may be asked to provide additional information or to attend an interview.
- The Fund can be provided in the following ways:
- By Grant – No repayment is required.
Applicable to those applicants when repayment cannot be reasonably expected in the foreseeable future or otherwise. - By Interest Free Loan – Repayment is required, by lump sum or installments.
Applicable to those applicants who are experiencing temporary financial difficulties.
- The Trustees will determine the final amount, payment and repayment terms of an application.
It may be worth pointing out that since the Fund is limited in resources, the Trustees would exercise great care in assessing the eligibility of the applications.
If you would like to make donations to the Fund, please do so while making payment of your membership subscription or contact the Secretariat of the Institution for details. On the other hand, if you would like to obtain further information on application for the Fund, please also contact the Secretariat of the Institution.
Ir CHAN Chi-chiu
Chairman
The HKIE Benevolent Fund