טן
SUNDAY, JULY 25, 1976
FOR THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR, 38 MILLION FRC. THE LOTTERIES FUND HAS BEEN EARMARKED FOR VARIOUS SOCIAL WELFARE PROJECTS, OF WATCH 14.6 MILLION ON REHABILITATION SERVICES, 11.4 MILLION CI GROUP AND COMMUNITY SERVICES, 1.5 MILLION ON FAMILY SERVICES,
6,900 ON SERVICES FOR OFFENDERS, $100,000 C MINOR ALLOCATIONS, AD THE REST TO BE USED TO MEET ANY CONTINGENCIES DURING THE YEAR.
SO FAR THIS YEAR, THE LARGEST SINGLE GRANT OF ABOUT $250,000 HAS BEEN MADE TO THE ST. JAMES SHELTERED WORKSHOP FOR THE HANDICAPPED. THE CEJECT OF THE WORKSHOP IS TO PROVIDE OCCUPATION AND ASSISTANCE TO PERSONS, WHO EECAUSE OF MENTAL OR PHYSICAL DISABILITY, ARE LOT ABLE TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT ELSEWHERE. THE WORKSHOP AIMS TO GIVE A
SENSE OF DELONGING TO ITS MEMBERG AND TO DEVELOP THE IR SELF- CONFIDENCE.
ANOTHER GRANT OF $120,000 HAS BEEN MADE THIS YEAR TO THE HONG KONG FEDERATION OF YOUTH GACJPS TOWARDS THE SETTING UP OF A YOUTH CENTRE IN THE 01 JAN ESTATE.
ON THE SOURCES OF THE INCOME FOR THE LOTTERIES FUND IN THE PAST YEARS, THE 3PCKESMAN NOTED THAT ABOUT 67 PER CENT HAD DEEN THE PROCEEDS FROM LOTTERY SALES- 4.5 PER CENT FROM AUCTIONS OF SPECIAL VEHICLE REGISTRATION NUMBERS- 2.6 PER CENT FROM FORFEITURE OF UNCLAFIED PRIZE MONEY= AND THE REST FROM ACCRUED INTEREST, REFUND OF GRANT AND REPAYMENT OF LOAN.
..
ALTHOUGH THE TICKETS OF THE FIRST GOVERNMENT LOTTERY LENT ON SALE IN 1962 FOLLOWING THE EXACTMENT OF THE LOTTERIES ORDINANCE, IT AS ONLY THREE YEARS LATER THAT A RESOLUTION WAS PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO CREATE THE LOTTERIES FUND FOR THE PURPOSE OF TAKING OVER UNSPENT MONEY RAISED FROM THE SALE OF THE LOTTERY TICKETS.
THE AIM OF THE FUND WAS TO USE PROCEEDS FROM FUTURE LOTTERIES TO FINANCE SOCIAL WELFARE PROJECTS.
THE FUND RECEIVED A CONSIDERABLE BOOSTING IN MAY 1973 WHEN THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT STARTED AUCTIONING +LUCKY+ CAR LICENCE NUDBERJ TO THE HIGHEST BIDDERS.
SO FAR, 29 AUCTIONS HAVE BEEN HELD AND THE LOTTERIES FU. 13 NOW PICHER SY $4.7 YILLICK.
ANOTHER TURNING POINT TOOK PLACE WHEN THE GOVERNMENT LOTTERIES WERE REPLACED BY THE MARK SIX LOTTERIES IN SEPTEMBER LAST YEAR. THE NEW LOTTERIES, WHICH ARE DRAWN TWICE WEEKLY, HAVE ALREADY CHANNELLED $3.3 MILLION TO THE FUND.
13