Lotteries Fund
Introduction
The Lotteries Fund was established in June 1965 by the Government for the purpose of financing social welfare services. The fund is primarily used to finance the capital expenditure of welfare projects and provide one-off grants to experimental projects with limited duration.
Sources of Income
The proceeds from the Mark Six Lottery are the main source of income of the Lotteries Fund. Other regular sources of income include investment income and auctions of vehicle registration numbers. Total receipts of the Fund during 2024-25 were $2.3 billion.
Approval Authority
Subject to certain conditions, authority to approve grants from the Lotteries Fund has been delegated to the Director of Social Welfare, acting on the advice of the Lotteries Fund Advisory Committee.
Allocations
During 2024-25, 486 allocations amounting to $6,083 million were made from the Lotteries Fund for capital works items, renovation, furniture, equipment and experimental projects. The following represents a breakdown of Lotteries Fund allocations by programme areas –
Lotteries Fund Allocations by Programme 2024-25
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| Programme Areas | Lotteries Fund Allocations (Percentage) |
|---|---|
| Elderly Services | $3,664.618 Million (60.24%) |
| Rehabilitation Services | $1,926.836 Million (31.67%) |
| Family & Child Welfare | $386.792 Million (6.36%) |
| Young People | $77.296 Million (1.27%) |
| Social Welfare Support | $15.108 Million (0.25%) |
| Services for Offenders | $10.73 Million (0.18%) |
| Community Development | $2.075 Million (0.03%) |
List of projects with estimated additional recurrent funding requirement exceeding $10Mn in a full year arising from allocation from the Lotteries Fund can be downloaded below:
Expenditure
During 2024-25, expenditure incurred against allocations amounts to $1.8 billion.
Eligibility
A non-governmental organisation is eligible to apply for a grant from the Lotteries Fund if it is recognized by the Social Welfare Department, in consultation with relevant authorities, as a non-profit-making organisation providing a valuable welfare service to the community.
| Item / Name | Download File |
|---|---|
| 'Application Form for Engagement of Authorised Persons / Consultants for Lotteries Fund Projects' | Online Form / Word |
| 'Application Form for Lotteries Fund Grant' | Online Form / PDF (Application Form with Appendixes)/ Word (Application Form)/ Excel (Appendixes) |
| 'Lotteries Fund Claim Certificate' | Word |
| 'Points to Note for Submission of Payment Claims' | |
| 'Lotteries Fund Manual' (January 2022 Version) | |
| Support Measures relating to Lotteries Fund for the Implementation of Productivity Enhancement Programme (Chinese version only) (Updated as of 30 April 2025) |
Reference materials
Applicants should refer to the following information before making applications -
| Item / Name | Download File |
|---|---|
| Reference Furniture & Equipment List | Link |
| Price List of Common Furniture & Equipment | |
| Kindergarten-cum-child care centre converted upon the harmonisation of pre-primary services under the monitoring of the Education Bureau providing ancillary services - purchase of furniture and equipment |
Applications
A non-governmental organisation should consult the concerned service branch of the Social Welfare Department on the purpose and scope of the proposed project prior to making an application which should be addressed to –
Lotteries Fund Projects Section
Subventions Branch
Social Welfare Department
Rooms 3601-02, 36/F
Dah Sing Financial Centre
248 Queen's Raod East
Wan Chai, Hong Kong
Enquiries
| Office: | Lotteries Fund Projects Section Subventions Branch Social Welfare Department Rooms 3601-02, 36/F Dah Sing Financial Centre 248 Queen's Raod East Wan Chai, Hong Kong |
|---|---|
| Tel. No.: | 2832 4331 |
| Fax No.: | 2151 0573 |
| E-mail: | lfenq@swd.gov.hk |