XN000022-1979-11-28 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1979

8

SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND FOR RECREATION RECEIVES A $15 MILLION BOOST

******

THE GOVERNOR HAS APPROVED THE GRANTING OF $15 MILLION FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND TO THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND TO ASSIST IN THE PROVISION OF FACILITIES FOR RECREATIONAL, SPORTING, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL SERVICES, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON. F.K. LI TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. F.K. HU, MR. LI SAID THE ENLARGED CAPITAL OF THE FUND SHOULD ENHANCE FUTURE INCOME TO AN ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $2 MILLION A YEAR.

HE SAID AT A RECENT MEETING OF THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT, IT WAS AGREED THAT ABOUT $500 000 OF THIS FUTURE INCOME SHOULD BE EARMARKED FOR PURCHASES OF RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT AND THE OCCASIONAL EXPENSES OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES WHILE THE REMAINDER OF $1.5 MILLION SHOULD BE RESERVED FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS IN THE RECREATION FIELD.

+THIS PROPORTION IS, OF COURSE, SUBJECT TO REVIEW FROM TIME TO TIME, HE SAID.

MR. LI RECALLED THAT THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND FOR RECREATION WAS A STATUTORY FUND ESTABLISHED IN 1970 BY PRIVATE DONATIONS AMOUNTING TO $3 MILLION AND IT IS STIPULATED BY LAW THAT ONLY THE INTEREST FROM THE FUND SHOULD BE DISTRIBUTED AND THAT THE AMOUNT AVAILABLE EACH YEAR IS IN THE REGION OF $400 000.

+AS THIS SUM IS RELATIVELY SMALL IN RELATION TO TOTAL DEMAND, THE FUND HAS SO FAR CONCENTRATED ON ALLOCATIONS FOR THE PROMOTION OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES INCLUDING THE PURCHASING OF SPORTS EQUIPMENT.

+HOWEVER A PRIVATE DONATION OF $10 MILLION WAS MADE IN 1974 MAINLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TOWARDS THE IR CAPITAL PROJECTS,+ MR. LI SAID.

THE AVERAGE SUM ALLOCATED, ON THE ADVICE OF THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT, HAS BEEN IN THE REGION OF $1.8 MILLION A YEAR DURING THE LAST FIVE YEARS OR SO.

+ IN ANTICIPATION OF THE EXHAUSTION OF THIS SUBSTANTIAL PRIVATE DONATION, I SOUGHT ADVICE FROM THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES ON THE POSSIBILITY OF GRANTS FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND FOR RECREATIONAL PROJECTS, MR. LI SAID.

THIS PROPOSAL WAS SUBSEQUENTLY CONSIDERED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHICH RECOMMENDED THE GRANT OF $15 MILLION FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND TO THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND. THE RECOMMENDATION WAS APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR IN JULY THIS YEAR.

APART FROM FUNDS ALLOCATED BY THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND, MR. LI NOTED THAT THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES INVOLVED IN PROVIDING RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ALSO RELIED ON THEIR OWN FUND-RAISING EFFORTS AND ON PRIVATE DONATIONS DISTRIBUTED THROUGH THE GOVERNMENT.

19