Budget Speech

Joining the Effort to Help the Disadvantaged

152.      I firmly believe that only by pooling the efforts of various sectors of the community, by collaboration between the community, the business sector and the Government, can we effectively help disadvantaged groups and build a caring society. Since its inception in 2005, through funding support on a matching basis, the Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged has been promoting tripartite partnership among the social welfare sector, the business sector and the Government in helping the disadvantaged, thereby enhancing social cohesion. So far, over $100 million has been approved under the Fund. This, together with the matching donations from the business sector, supports non-governmental organisations to implement various welfare projects in conjunction with the business sector. Around 650 000 disadvantaged persons have benefited from these projects. In view of the favourable response from the community, I propose to inject $200 million into the Fund to encourage further cross-sector collaboration to help the disadvantaged.

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