LCQ7: Special Scheme on Privately Owned Sites for Welfare Uses
29.3.2023

Following is a question by Dr the Hon Tik Chi-yuen and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (March 29): Question: The then Chief Executive announced in the 2013 Policy Address that the Government would seek to use the Lotteries Fund more flexibly and make better use of the land owned by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) through redevelopment or expansion to provide diversified subvented and self-financing facilities. The Labour and Welfare Bureau and the Social Welfare Department subsequently launched the Special Scheme on Privately Owned Sites for Welfare Uses (Special Sites Scheme) in September 2013. However, there are views pointing out that the progress of the Special Sites Scheme has been very slow, causing great distress to the NGOs participating in the Scheme. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council: (1) of the number of project proposals with development potential under the Special Sites Scheme as at March this year; (2) of the following information on each of (i) the project proposals with development potential mentioned in (1) and (ii) the completed projects under the Special Sites Scheme: the welfare facilities to be provided/provided, the number of places of the relevant welfare service, the expected completion date/completion date, and the date on which the relevant welfare service is expected to commence/commenced; and (3) whether it has considered strengthening the coordination and collaboration work, so that government departments can collaborate with each other and expedite the implementation of the projects under the Special Sites Scheme; if so, of the relevant measures and timetable; if not, the reasons for that? Reply: President, (1) and (2) At present, the Special Scheme on Privately Owned Sites for Welfare Uses (Special Sites Scheme) involves a total of 73 project proposals. As at early March 2023, the status of the project proposals is summarised as follows: (a) Six projects have been completed, providing about 260 additional elderly service places and about 1 070 additional rehabilitation service places; (b) Two projects have entered the construction stage, and eight projects are at the stage of detailed design. It is estimated that these 10 projects, if materialised, will provide about 3 870 additional elderly, rehabilitation, child care and youth service places; and (c) 21 projects are at the technical feasibility study (TFS) stage. Details of the above 37 Special Sites Scheme projects are at Annex. For the remaining 36 projects, the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) concerned are at project formulation and preliminary planning stage. The Social Welfare Department (SWD) will consider supporting the respective NGOs to proceed with TFSs having regard to the actual status of the individual projects. (3) The implementation of the proposed projects under the Special Sites Scheme depends on various factors, including the location and surrounding environment of the sites concerned, the presence of communal and transport facilities, requirements prescribed in the land lease conditions, restrictions stipulated in the outline zoning plans on use and development intensity, feedback received from local consultations, distribution of existing services as well as the demand for and supply of the proposed services. Progress of Special Sites Scheme projects also depends on whether the NGO applicants will revise the project proposals or require more time to prepare the relevant documents and submit information to relevant departments. To address the problems involved in the development procedures and to expedite the work flow, the SWD has been maintaining close contact with relevant departments such as the Architectural Services Department, the Lands Department, the Planning Department and the Buildings Department to provide suitable assistance and co-ordination to the NGO applicants regarding issues involved in individual projects under the Special Sites Scheme, such as preparing TFS in order to amend the outline zoning plan, obtaining planning permission and processing lease modification. The SWD has been meeting with each of the NGOs participating in the Special Sites Scheme, with a view to reviewing the progress of their project proposals. The SWD will also arrange for the NGOs to meet with the departments concerned on a need basis, so as to facilitate the NGOs to expedite their implementation of projects.