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Special Scheme on Privately Owned Sites for Welfare Uses

  • The Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB)/ Social Welfare Department (SWD) launched the Special Scheme on Privately Owned Sites for Welfare Uses (Phase One of the Special Sites Scheme) in September 2013 to encourage non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to better utilise their own sites, through expansion, redevelopment or new development, to provide or increase those welfare facilities considered by the Government as being in acute demand, in particular to increase elderly and rehabilitation service places. Please click here for the major features of Phase One of the Special Sites Scheme.
  • Generally, an NGO applicant would, upon obtaining Lotteries Fund (LF) grant, complete a technical feasibility study (TFS) on its project. The NGO applicant may apply for LF grant to carry out the detailed design and preparatory works/studies if the project is confirmed to be technically feasible. After the detailed design has been completed and approved, the NGO applicant may apply for another LF grant to meet the cost of the main works.  NGO applicants may also seek other funding sources to cover all or part of the costs of their projects.
  • By the closing of application for Phase One of the Special Sites Scheme on 18 November 2013, 63 project proposals submitted by 43 NGOs had been received. Among them, 17 project proposals, which could not proceed further due to various reasons (e.g. site constraints), were removed/withdrawn from the Special Sites Scheme subsequently.
  • The LWB/SWD launched Phase Two of the Special Sites Scheme in April 2019, proposing various enhanced features, including the increase in the types of welfare services in the “Shopping List” as well as the types of welfare-related ancillary facilities that may be included in project proposals. Besides, flexible funding arrangements under the LF will continue to be provided. We have included a total of five new facilities on elderly services and rehabilitation services, namely, Care and Attention Home providing Continuum of Care cum Day Care Unit for the Elderly, Nursing Home cum Day Care Unit for the Elderly, Hostel for Severely Physically Handicapped Persons, Supported Hostel for Mentally and Physically Handicapped Persons, as well as On-site Pre-school Rehabilitation Services Office. We have also included three types of child care services, namely, Child Care Centre, Residential Child Care Centre and Small Group Home. In addition, we have increased the types of welfare-related ancillary facilities for inclusion in project proposals, so as to meet the diversified needs of service users. Examples include medical and dental facilities for specified target users, service for assessment of children with special education needs, as well as showroom and/or shop for innovative and gerontechnology products relating to the ageing society and needs of persons with disabilities. Please click here for the enhanced features of Phase Two of the Special Sites Scheme.
  • By the closing of application for Phase Two of the Special Sites Scheme on 30 August 2019, 25 project proposals submitted by 16 NGOs had been received. Among them, 6 project proposals, which could not proceed further due to various reasons (e.g. site constraints), were removed/withdrawn from the Special Sites Scheme subsequently.

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