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(iii) satisfy the Director of Lands that the site is put to its optimum

use.

The availability of a suitable site for the purpose is also an important criterion. In general, the Director of Social Welfare would grant support to an application subject to the following provisions -

(

the nature of the project must be welfare-related;

(ii)

there is a demand for the proposed service in the area;

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(iii)

(iv)

the applicant has the required financial capability to develop and operate the project (including capital costs and recurrent costs); and

the applicant has the relevant experience and capability in running the proposed service.

since 1985, 25 organisations have been granted land for charity and welfare purposes, involving 30 land grants and a total area of about 12.89 hectares. No statistics were kept on land grants of this nature made before 1985;

the land lease document of each of such land grant stipulates, among other things, the use of the land in question, which is the same as that stated in the original application. If the land is used for a different purpose or ceases to be used or there is a diminution in the use of the site, the Government has the right to re-enter the land;

we do not allow the sale of land in this category, but it is possible for a grantee to apply for redevelopment of his site should the site be under- utilised. Each case has to be considered on its own merits and requires the specific approval of the Governor in Council; and

as explained in (d) above, land in this category is not allowed to be sold. The information asked for by the Honourable Member is therefore not available.