Hong Kong's Inaugural Money Month Launched

Feb 18, 2017 22:31 JST

Source: Hong Kong Strategy for Financial Literacy

Cross-sectors with over 100 organisations and 12 ambassadors collaborate for the first time to improve financial literacy and promote Hong Kong as a city that values financial well-being;
Money Month Education Fair offers experiential and fun learning and addresses specific education needs;
Money Learning Directory provides a one-stop financial education resource guide to enable public learning

HONG KONG, Feb 18, 2017 - (ACN Newswire) - The Investor Education Centre (IEC) today launched "Money Month," Hong Kong's first territory-wide financial education campaign under its cross-sectoral collaboration platform "Hong Kong Strategy for Financial Literacy" (HKSFL). The campaign brings together for the first time some 100 supporting organisations and 12 ambassadors to encourage members of the public to learn and talk more about money management, and ultimately make informed and responsible financial decisions.

The inaugural Money Month, with its vision to promote Hong Kong as a city that values financial well-being, will take place from 18 February to 18 March 2017. Entitled "Let's Talk about Money", the month-long cross-sectoral financial education campaign features a wide range of financial education activities offering money management resources, tools, tips as well as fun learning experiences provided by supporting organisations from the government, finance, education, community and media sectors. Ambassadors from different walks of life also help raise awareness of the benefits of financial education through sharing their personal stories and experiences.

Dr Kelvin Wong, Chairman of the IEC, said, "I am very delighted to see Hong Kong's inaugural Money Month come to life today after many months of preparation. As an organisation dedicated to improving financial literacy in Hong Kong, the IEC fully supports Hong Kong Money Month via "The Chin Family", its independent and impartial financial education platform as well as its role as the Secretariat of the HKSFL. Everyone can play a role in contributing to financial well-being of individuals and society as a whole. During the period, the IEC will organise various activities and resources to help members of the public to learn, to plan and to improve their financial positions, as well as to inspire stakeholders to address financial education needs in Hong Kong."

Mr T C Chan, Chairman of HKSFL Steering Committee and IEC Executive Committee Member said, "Thanks to the concerted cross-sector collaborative efforts by our more than 100 supporting organisations, HKSFL Committee Members and Ambassadors, we have successfully achieved this important milestone to enhance the impact and reach of financial education in Hong Kong. Through stimulating discussions and setting common objectives, messages and platform, we hope that the HKSFL and its annual Money Month campaign will share best practices as well as rally the different sectors of the population to address financial education challenges together."

The Money Month Launch Ceremony was officiated by Professor K C Chan, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury; Dr Kelvin Wong, Chairman of the IEC; and Mr T C Chan, Chairman of HKSFL Steering Committee and IEC Executive Committee Member; alongside HKSFL Steering Committee Members, Ambassadors and representatives of over 100 Supporting Organisations. At the ceremony, Hong Kong's first Teacher Award for Business and Financial Education Prize Presentation was also held. Organised by Hong Kong Association for Business Education and Hong Kong Education City, and supported by Education Bureau, IEC and HKSFL, the Award aims to promote knowledge, skills, attitudes, motivations and behaviour in business and financial education among secondary schools in Hong Kong and to develop a sharing community among teachers.

The Education Fair, one of the key highlights of Hong Kong Money Month, is also launched across the weekend from 18 to 19 February 2017 at Plaza Hollywood, Diamond Hill, Kowloon. Over 20 game and exhibition booths are conducted by HKSFL Supporting Organisations, coupled with thematic talks and sharing by financial education practitioners, market experts, HKSFL Ambassadors and artists such as Alfred Hui and Bob Cheung to address specific financial education needs of the youth, elderly, grassroots, working adults and investors.

Members of the public can visit the Hong Kong Money Month website (www.moneymonth.hk) and the free, one-stop resource guide Money Learning Directory
(https://www.hksfl.hk/money-learning-directory/public/en/index.html) to learn more about Money Month and utilise free and comprehensive resources and programmes on money matters to plan ahead and achieve their life goals.

Media enquiries:

Investor Education Centre
Jeanette Kwok + 852 2700 6068 / 6380 9284
jeanettekwok@hkiec.hk
Kanis Li + 852 2700 6008 / 9073 6384
kanisli@hkiec.hk

Strategic Financial Relations Limited
Ingrid Cheng +852 2864 4836/ 9805 4338
ingrid.cheng@sprg.com.hk
Kally Lam +852 2114 4915/ 9017 2169
kally.lam@sprg.com.hk

Notes to editors:

Money Month Education Fair

The Money Month Education Fair will provide experiential and fun learning on various money management topics - from budgeting, money saving and spending, investing to debt management, financial and retirement planning through a diverse mix of games, talks, performances and tip-sharing by financial education practitioners, market experts, HKSFL Ambassadors and artists. Over 20 game and exhibition booths are conducted by HKSFL Supporting Organisations to address specific financial education needs of the population. The booths are in four zones featuring the following themes "Save for the Future," "Spend & Borrow Wisely," "Know your Rights and Risks" and "Plan for Retirement."

Hong Kong Strategy for Financial Literacy
Launched in November 2015, the Hong Kong Strategy for Financial Literacy (HKSFL) aims to harness the enthusiasm and efforts of various sectors by setting common goals and enabling cross-sectoral collaboration to address financial education needs in Hong Kong. Building on a public consultation, stakeholder workshops and international best practice, the Strategy has set out for the first time a clear direction for financial literacy in Hong Kong and provides a practical framework for actions to be taken across the government, finance, education and community sectors. Our vision is to empower the people of Hong Kong to make informed and responsible financial decisions with three strategic focuses: raise awareness of the benefits of financial education, extend opportunities to learn and enhance coordination and collaboration among stakeholders. To date, some 100 sector organisations and industry associations have signed up as supporting organisations, and together with 12 ambassadors will promote the benefits of financial education to the public. For details of the HKSFL and ambassador stories, please visit www.hksfl.hk

HKSFL Ambassadors
Mr T C Chan
Mr Chan Wing Luk
Ms Chui Yuk Ha
Ms Fang Meng Sang, Christine
Mr Hsiao Chun Mo, Moses
Mr David Kneebone
Ms Lam Yuen Lee, Viola
Mr Lau Chun Kong, Ryan
Mr Lee Kam Wing, Bruno
Ms Lee Lai Kuen, Shelley
Mr Lee Ming Kwai, Dick
Mr Sze Kwok Hin
For details of ambassador activities, please visit www.moneymonth.org.hk/en/ambassadors.html

HKSFL Supporting Organisations
Cross-sectoral collaboration is essential to making the HKSFL a success. Visit this link for details of supporting organisations: www.hksfl.hk/en/supporting-organisations/

Investor Education Centre
Established in 2012 and supported by the Education Bureau and all four financial regulators, the Investor Education Centre (IEC) is an organisation dedicated to improving financial literacy in Hong Kong. In April 2016, the IEC launched an independent and impartial financial education platform, The Chin Family, with free information, resources and programmes to help people in Hong Kong plan and manage their finances. The IEC is also the secretariat for the Hong Kong Strategy for Financial Literacy, which aims to harness the enthusiasm and efforts of various sectors by setting common goals that address the financial education needs of our society. Learn more about the IEC at www.hkiec.hk.

Photo Caption:
Professor K C Chan, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (4th from left); Dr Kelvin Wong, Chairman of Investor Education Centre (3rd from left); Mr T C Chan, Chairman of Hong Kong Strategy for Financial Literacy Steering Committee and IEC Executive Committee Member (5th from right); alongside HKSFL Steering Committee members, Mr Rex Auyeung (3rd from right), Ms Christine Fang (2nd from left), Mr David Kneebone (4th from right), Mr Bruno Lee (2nd from right), Mr Weber Lo (1st from left), and Dr Billy Mak (1st from right) officiated Hong Kong's inaugural Money Month.

Source: Hong Kong Strategy for Financial Literacy
Sectors: Daily Finance, Daily News