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SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1974
GRANTS FROM LOTTERIES FUND AMOUNT TO $57 MILLION
SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT
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THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES FUND HAS ALLOCATED NEARLY $57 HILLJON TO VARIOUS LOCAL CHARITABLE AND WELFARE ORGANISATIONS FOR SOCIAL WELFARE ACTIVITIES SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1965.
UP TO THE END OF JULY, A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 440 GRANTS AND LOANS WERE HADE.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE FUND DISCLOSED TODAY THAT THE LARGEST SINGLE GRANT SO FAR IS $3 MILLION ALLOCATED TO THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE IN 1972 FOR BUILDING AND EQUIPPING A NEW HEADQUARTERS BUILDING IN WANCHAI.
THE FUND WAS SET UP NINE YEARS AGO WITH A SUM OF OVER $7.4 MILLION, BEING THE PROCEEDS OF THE LOTTERIES HELD FROM 1962 TO 1964.
+ITS TOTAL INCOME UP TO THE END OF JULY 1974 WAS SOME. $41.1 MILLION OF WHICH WERE PROCEEDS FROM ALL THE POST LOTTERIES, $5.49 MILLION FROM UNCLAIMED PRIZE MONIES, $2.71 HILLION FROM THE AUCTIONS OF SPECIAL CAR NUMBERS AND $10.4 MILLION IN ACCRUED INTEREST,+ THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED.
THE MAIN OBJECT OF THE FUND IS TO MAKE CAPITAL GRANTS IN SUPPORT OF SOCIAL WELFARE PROJECTS IN HONG KONG AND ALLOCATIONS FROM IT ARE MADE TO VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES IN THE FORM OF CAPITAL GRANTS OR OF CAPITAL LOANS REPAYABLE WITH OR WITHOUT INTEREST.
IN ADDITION TO SOCIAL WELFARE PROJECTS, THE FUND IS ALSO MADE AVAILABLE TO SPECIALISED MEDICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS WHICH HAVE A WELFARE ELEMENT IN THEM.
BEFORE THE FUND WAS ESTABLISHED, ALL PROCEEDS FROM THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES WERE PAID INTO GENERAL REVENUE AND LATER ALLOCATED TO EXPENDITURE FOR THE PURPOSES OF SOCIAL WELFARE.
+ANY VOLUNTARY AGENCY IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY PROVIDED IT IS AFFILIATED TO THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICES OR IS ACCEPTED BY EITHER THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE. OR THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES OR THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AS A SUITABLE RECIPIENT OF AN ALLOCATION, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.
WELFARE PROJECTS WHICH HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THE FUND INCLUDE CHILDREN AND YOUTH ACTIVITIES, RESIDENTIAL ESTABLISHMENTS, NURSERIES, PLAY CENTRES, VOCATION TRAINING AND EDUCATION, REHABILITATION AND SERVICES FOR THE HANDICAPPED, EX-DRUG ADDICTS AND PRISONERS AS WELL AS SERVICES FOR THE AGED.
THE SPOKESMAN