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The Environment and Conservation Fund (ECF) Committee met today (September 4) and agreed on future arrangements for handling funding applications for community-initiated green projects and activities.
As part of its long-term commitment to environmental protection and conservation and with the funding approval of the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council on June 14, 2013, the Government has injected $5 billion into the ECF, which serves as seed money to generate annual investment returns to support such green projects and activities.
A spokesman for the ECF said, "The ECF will continue to ensure fairness and accountability in processing applications for ECF grants."
The ECF has reserved a sum of $220 million for supporting funding applications in the financial year 2013/14. All applications which were received on and before September 4, 2013 will be processed as soon as possible in accordance with the existing arrangements.
Under the new funding arrangements as agreed by the ECF Committee today, in future, open invitations for applications under individual funding scheme will be called at scheduled intervals. Relevant vetting subcommittees of the ECF will consider all applications received by the application deadline and select the most meritorious applications for funding support. Briefings will be arranged for relevant organisations and other interested parties, and details on the invitation of applications will be announced soon.
The ECF is a statutory trust fund established in 1994 under the ECF Ordinance (Cap. 450) to provide funding support for educational, research and other projects and activities in relation to environmental and conservation matters. Through subsidising projects and activities initiated by eligible non-profit-making organisations, the ECF promotes behavioural and lifestyle changes to protect the environment and achieve sustainable development. The ECF has supported over 3 900 projects totalling $1,668 million since 1994.
Ends/Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:48
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