Hong Kong Federation of Women's Centres

Identity area

Type of entity

Corporate body

Authorized form of name

Hong Kong Federation of Women's Centres

Parallel form(s) of name

  • 香港婦女中心協會

Standardized form(s) of name according to other rules

    Other form(s) of name

    • HKFWC

    Identifiers for corporate bodies

    Description area

    Dates of existence

    1981-

    History

    The Hong Kong Federation of Women's Centres (HKFWC) is a non-partisan organization that supports grassroots women and promote gender equality in Hong Kong through an array of services, education, and advocacy. It was created and operated by women, with the mission of promoting Women's rights, developing women's individual potential, advising decision-making bodies through collaborative efforts, and pioneering women-focused resources and services.
    HKFWC was initially founded as a subsidiary organization of the Hong Kong Council of Women (HKCW). Following the War on Rape Campaign in 1979, the HKCW set up a Steering Committee to assess the needs and feasibility for a community centre that offers social services to grassroot women. This nurtured the establishment of the Women's Center, marked by the opening of a telephone helpline on May 5, 1981. The centre operated in the back office of former Urban Councilor, Elsie Elliot, until 1985 when it moved into the Lai Kok Estate premises in Shum Shui Po. Its distinctive identity and directives eventually led to its independence from the HKCW in 1992, after which the Centre renamed to the Hong Kong Federation of Women's Centres.
    Following its independence, HKFWC continued to expand its network of services to other districts in Hong Kong. In 1996, a second centre was opened in Tai Wo Estate, Tai Po. In 2014 and 2016 respectively, two new centres premiered in Fanling (Women in Self Enhancement centre) and Sheung Shui to extend the reach to North District. 2019 witnessed another milestone when Jockey Club Wah Fu Centre, the first service unit on Hong Kong Island, was set up.
    HKFWC's contribution to women's welfare were recognized by governing bodies locally and abroad. In 1989, it was granted membership of the Community Chest. In 2002, it acquired Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations.
    To obtain charitable status with tax exemption, Hong Kong Federation of Women's Centres Limited was established in 2015. The transfer of HKFWC to the compnay limited by guarantee was completed in 2023, and the existing HKFWC formed under Societies Ordinance was dissolved.

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    Internal structures/genealogy

    General context

    Relationships area

    Related entity

    Hong Kong Homemakers' Alliance (2001-[2012])

    Identifier of related entity

    Category of relationship

    hierarchical

    Type of relationship

    Hong Kong Homemakers' Alliance is the subordinate of Hong Kong Federation of Women's Centres

    Dates of relationship

    Description of relationship

    Related entity

    The Hong Kong Council of Women (1947-[1990])

    Identifier of related entity

    Category of relationship

    hierarchical

    Type of relationship

    The Hong Kong Council of Women is the superior of Hong Kong Federation of Women's Centres

    Dates of relationship

    Description of relationship

    Access points area

    Subject access points

    Place access points

    Occupations

    Control area

    Authority record identifier

    http://viaf.org/viaf/134027013

    Institution identifier

    Rules and/or conventions used

    Status

    Level of detail

    Dates of creation, revision and deletion

    Created December 1, 2025 - Jason Kahei Wong.

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        Maintenance notes