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Social Welfare

networks, thus helping their long-term development. In 2019, there were 54 ongoing NGO-run projects and 48 school-based projects, of which 21 projects involving more than 1,400 new participants were launched.

Innovation and Technology Fund for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care

The $1 billion fund, launched by the department in December 2018, subsidises elderly and rehabilitation service units to try out, procure or rent technology products, so as to improve the quality of life of service users and reduce the burden on care staff and carers. In 2019, grants totalling some $37 million were approved for more than 210 service units to procure or rent over 870 technology products.

Arts Development Fund for Persons with Disabilities

In March, the department launched this fund to subsidise eligible organisations in organising arts activities and training programmes that would enhance the arts knowledge of people with disabilities, foster their interest in the arts, develop their potential and help those with good potential strive for excellence and develop personal careers. Grants totalling some $25 million were approved among the first batch of applications for 21 organisations to implement 30 arts projects.

Advisory Bodies

Social Welfare Advisory Committee

The Social Welfare Advisory Committee reviews social welfare services and advises the government on all matters of social welfare policy. In 2019, the committee advised the government on social welfare initiatives announced in the Policy Address and on suggestions about 2020-21 welfare priorities offered by the social welfare sector and other advisory bodies.

Commission on Children

The Commission on Children is a high-level advisory committee that provides an overall steer on children's issues and sets policy directions, strategies and priorities for the early benefit of children. In 2019, the commission agreed to implement a series of important tasks, including the commissioning of a consultancy study about developing a central databank on children, the establishment of a Funding Scheme for Children's Well-being and Development, and the formulation of publicity strategies and promotional plans.

Elderly Commission

The Elderly Commission advises the government on policy and services for the elderly. Its recommendations, set out in the Elderly Services Programme Plan, are being implemented by the government. In the 2018-19 school year, about 160 elder academies in primary and secondary schools and post-secondary institutions were operating under the Elder Academy Scheme, conducted jointly by the commission and the government.

Women's Commission

The Women's Commission aims to enable women in Hong Kong to fully realise their due status, rights and opportunities in all aspects of life through an enabling environment, the

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