****************************************************
The Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (February 3) announced the allocation of funds to five non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for operating territory-wide short-term food assistance services to help individuals and families with difficulties in coping with daily food expenditure.
The five NGOs and the localities to be served are as follows:
Name of NGO Operators Locality to be served
--------------------- ------------------------
St James' Settlement Tsuen Wan, Kwai Tsing,
Hong Kong Island and Other
Islands (including Tung Chung)
Tung Wah Group of Sham Shui Po, Kowloon City
Hospitals and Yau Tsim Mong
Kwun Tong Methodist Kwun Tong, Wong Tai Sin and
Social Service Sai Kung
Hong Kong Women Sha Tin, Tai Po and North
Development
Association Ltd
Hong Kong Sheng Kung Tuen Mun and Yuen Long
Hui Welfare Council
A spokesman for the Social Welfare Department said: "The NGOs are now actively preparing for the implementation of their projects. It is expected that the service will begin by the end of this month (February)."
"In processing the applications, the department has set up designated Vetting Committees to assess the proposals and identify suitable NGOs to operate the short-term food assistance service projects in different localities. Selection criteria includes the overall service design, plans to promote the service, strategies to develop partnership with local organisations and the business sector, procedures for handling and disbursement of food as well as other merits of the proposals."
The Finance Committee of the Legislative Council approved the allocation of $100 million in December to the Social Welfare Department to work with NGOs in implementing five short-term food assistance service projects covering the whole territory. The department invited NGOs to submit proposals for operating the service projects immediately after the funding approval. Upon closing of submissions on January 5, the department received 25 proposals from 16 NGOs. The mentioned NGOs were finally accepted and funded to run their respective projects.
During the transitional period in preparing for the projects, the department had already allocated, through redeployment of internal resources, $3.84 million to strengthen the existing short-term food assistance projects run by two NGOs as a stop-gap measure to help those in need.
Ends/Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:01
NNNN
