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$346 million grant from Lotteries Fund approved

A total of $346,494,500 has been approved from the Lotteries Fund to finance various social welfare service programmes during the first quarter of 1996. a spokesman for the Social Welfare Department said today (Sunday).

"Of the amount, $96,930,700 are earmarked to family and child welfare services, $164,115,800 to elderly and medical social services, $71,483,600 to rehabilitation services, $13,029,400 to youth services, $651,000 to community development services and $284,000 to social welfare support programmes," the spokesman said.

The Lotteries Fund was established for the purpose of financing, by way of a grant, loan or an advance, the operation or development of social welfare services and medical or educational projects with a welfare content.

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41 building plans approved in February

The Buildings Department approved 41 building plans in February this year.

Of the plans, 12 are for Hong Kong Island, 17 for Kowloon and 12 for the New Territories.

The approved plans include 22 for apartment and apartment/commercial developments, seven for commercial developments, three for factory and industrial developments, and nine for community services developments.

In the same month, consent was given for work to start on 42 building projects, which involve 90,881 square metres of usable domestic floor area and 149,513 square metres of usable non-domestic floor area.

During the same period, the department also issued 32 Occupation Permits - nine for Hong Kong Island, 14 for Kowloon and nine for the New Territories.