Statutory Status
The Hong Kong Red Cross is a Branch of the Red Cross Society of China
The Hong Kong Red Cross (HKRC) was formerly a branch of the British Red Cross Society. Since 1 July 1997, upon the Government of the People's Republic of China's resuming the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong and the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the HKRC has changed its affiliation to become a highly autonomous branch of the Red Cross Society of China:
- Its full official name being 'The Red Cross of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China' and its accepted short title being the 'Hong Kong Red Cross (Branch of the Red Cross Society of China)';
- With full autonomy to make its own decisions on matters concerning its internal management, which include organizational structure, policies and administrative decision making, working procedures, personnel, financial management, nature and forms of service operations; and
- Able to maintain and develop direct contact and operational programmes with other members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, provided such contact and programmes do not contravene the Movement's Fundamental Principle of "Unity" and that the RCSC National Headquarters be duly informed.