With only a third of all donations coming from Chinese mainland citizens the call has gone out to encourage many more to contribute to helping those in need.

Though the nation has witnessed a steady increase in cash and material donations in the past few years, it was far from enough.

"Compared with advanced countries in the West, China is still a laggard in terms of the amount of donations, and public awareness still needs to grow," said Fan Baojun, director of the China Charity Federation (CCF).

Since the establishment of the CCF seven years ago, it has collected nearly 1.2 billion yuan (US$144.9 million) in charitable donations, but 70 percent of that money comes from overseas.

Only 30 percent of donations were made by residents of the Chinese mainland.

China has around 100 charities, a far cry from the 1.2 million-plus in the United States, said Fan.

A recent survey by the Shanghai Charity Foundation, however, indicates that more and more Chinese citizens are beginning to take part in charitable activities, especially in economically developed cities across the country.

The survey of 3,877 residents in Shanghai at the end of last year, found that over 90 percent of those interviewed said they had made at least one donation, of less than 500 yuan (US$60.3), on a yearly basis.

The poll also found that more than 80 percent of the respondents said they would increase the amounts they gave when their incomes grew.

Jin Chongyu, an official with the Shanghai Charity Foundation, said the nation lacks a regulatory framework for charitable organizations, their financial systems and scope of fund-raising activities.

A lack of financial incentives is blamed as one of the key reasons why successful private entrepreneurs are showing little enthusiasm for donating to worthy causes.

"If the nation can thrash out tax breaks designed for charitable donations, I believe more people will be ready to join the bandwagon," said Fan.

To make it easier for the well-to-do to give to the poor, in 1996 China began establishing permanent donation stations.

To date, there are more than 18,000, large and small, scattered across the nation.

In some cities like Beijing and Shanghai, contribution boxes have been moved into large companies, residential centres, supermarkets and shopping malls.

And to let donors know where their contributions end up, the Ministry of Civil Affairs has mapped out a system which tracks donations, both money and goods, and makes regular checks on how they are distributed and used.

(China Daily February 11, 2003)