Hong Kong's inaugural Money Month launched

18 February 2017

 

  • 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

 


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 (http://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.



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