Continuing Community Support
Highlights of the Year 2024-25
Continuing Community Support
Innovation and Technology Fund (I&T Fund) for Application in Elderly and Rehabilitation Care
In 2024-25, the Government injected an additional $1 billion into the I&T Fund to enhance subsidies for eligible elderly and rehabilitation service units to procure, rent or trial technology products, and to expand the I&T Fund’s scope to cover technology products suitable for household use. As at 31 March 2025, the I&T Fund had granted a total of about $820 million, subsidising about 2 100 service units to procure or rent over 24 000 technology products.
Arts Development Fund for Persons with Disabilities
The Arts Development Fund for Persons with Disabilities subsidises non-profit making NGOs/bodies with relevant experience in organising various time-defined arts programmes or activities for persons with disabilities (PWDs). The Fund aims to enhance participants’ arts knowledge, fostering their interest in the arts, explore their potential, and nurture PWDs with great artistic talent to strive for excellence and develop their arts careers. In 2024-25, a total of over $18.9 million was granted to 34 service units to implement 38 arts projects.
Hong Kong Paralympians Fund
The Hong Kong Paralympians Fund (HKPF) aims to foster the development of sports for athletes with disabilities and support their pursuit of sporting excellence in international events. In 2024-25, a total of $7.3 million was approved for allocation, of which $3.9 million was allocated to sports organisations to support the development of target sports, including athletics, shooting, archery, swimming, rowing, sailing, gymnastics, skating and bowling for PWDs, as well as for administrative expenses. Another $2.79 million was allocated to athletes with disabilities to support their pursuit of excellence in international sporting events.
Special Needs Trust
The Government established the Special Needs Trust (SNT) Office in December 2018. With the Director of Social Welfare Incorporated as the trustee, the SNT provides reliable and affordable trust services for managing the assets of deceased parents of children with special needs. Regular disbursements are made to the carers of these children, whether individuals or organisations, in accordance with the parents’ wishes. This ensures that the assets are used to meet the long-term daily needs of their children after the parents’ passing. As at 31 March 2025, the SNT Office received 91 applications for the service.
Respite Services for Persons with Disabilities
The number of day and residential respite places for persons with disabilities (PWDs) increased by 22 in 2024-25. Starting from October 2023, 22 private Residential Care Homes for Persons with Disabilities participating in the Bought Place Scheme also provide day respite services for PWDs. As at the end of March 2025, there were 237 day respite places and 444 residential respite places.
District Services and Community Care Teams - Pilot Scheme On Supporting Elderly and Carers
The SWD launched the Pilot Scheme in Tsuen Wan and Southern District in March 2024. The Care Teams were engaged to help identify needy singleton/doubleton elderly households, as well as carers of elderly persons and persons with disabilities (PWDs), through home visits and outreach work. Cases requiring assistance are referred to social welfare service units for follow-up. The Care Teams also assisted in referring eligible elderly persons and PWDs to install and use emergency alarm systems where needed. As at end-March 2025, the 36 Care Teams in Tsuen Wan and the Southern District had visited or contacted over 7 300 households of singleton/doubleton elderly, as well as carers of elderly persons and PWDs. In view of the positive outcomes, the scheme was extended to all 18 districts in April 2025.
The 12th Batch of Financial Support Scheme for Self-Help Organisations of Persons with Disabilities/Chronic Illnesses (2024-26)
In 2024-25, more than $25 million was allocated to support the development of 104 self-help organisations of PWDs or persons with chronic illnesses, with a view to fostering the spirit of self-help among PWDs/patients and their carers.
Pilot Project on Integrated Community Rehabilitation Centre
The SWD implemented the “Pilot Project on Integrated Community Rehabilitation Centre” (ICRC) to provide a continuum of co-ordinated and interconnected community support services for PWDs with intensive care needs who live at home, as well as support for their carers. The two ICRCs set up under the Pilot Project provide integrated day care and home-based support services in a flexible manner, catering to the actual impairment levels and changing needs of PWDs.