Handover safety guide

Every act of kindness deserves to be passed on safely. Givers and receivers, please keep the following in mind:

1. 1
   Choose a public place

   Meet in the daytime somewhere busy and well lit, such as a suitable spot outside the paid area of an MTR station, a shopping mall, or a public place with staff on duty. Follow the venue’s rules and do not block walkways. Avoid platforms, quiet back lanes, stairwells and empty car parks.

2. 2
   Confirm the plan before you go

   Use GiveHK messages to confirm the item, date, time, exact meeting point and how many people will come. Check again before you set off. If the other person suddenly suggests a quiet place, asks you to get into a car or go somewhere else, you can say no and cancel.

3. 3
   Avoid going to a home alone

   Try not to collect small items at a stranger’s home. If large furniture really needs collecting from a home, both sides should bring an adult friend or family member, or the receiver can hire a reliable removal service. Anyone under 18 should be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

4. 4
   Home collections: agree everything first

   Confirm the size, weight, floor, lift access and whether anything needs taking apart. Where possible, hand over in the lobby or at the door. If entry is needed, agree beforehand which area will be used and avoid other rooms. Givers should put away valuables and personal documents. If the people who arrive are not who you agreed, you can pause the handover.

5. 5
   Protect your personal information

   The public item page only needs a rough area or nearby MTR station. Share the necessary address by message only after you are matched and the plan is confirmed. Never give copies of your ID, bank details, passwords or verification codes, and do not mention that you live alone or your daily routine.

6. 6
   Tell someone you trust

   Before you go, tell a friend or family member the time, place and when you expect to finish. Keep your phone charged and reachable, and share your live location with someone you trust if needed. Let them know when you are done.

7. 7
   Free means free: no holding fees

   Items on GiveHK are given for free. Never pay a deposit, holding fee or “verification” fee. Do not click suspicious payment or delivery links sent by the other person. If you need paid transport, arrange and pay a reliable provider yourself, completely separate from the item.

8. 8
   Check the item before you finish

   Make sure the person matches who you agreed to meet and check the item and its condition before completing the handover. Never pass on a package of unknown contents for a stranger, and do not accept something just because you are being rushed.

9. 9
   Feel uneasy? You can leave at any time

   No free item is worth your personal safety. If you face threats, harassment, demands for money or anything suspicious, leave first and go somewhere with staff on duty. Once safe, keep the messages and report it to us. If you are in immediate danger, call 999. Do not wait for a reply from us.

Public places and account verification cannot guarantee a safe handover. Use your judgement on the spot and always put your own safety first. MTR stations, malls and similar places mentioned here are only suggested public meeting places, not official or partner handover points.

Having a problem? Use Cancel handover, Report or Block in the conversation, or contact us.