Hong Kong plans HK$100 million scheme to send NGO staff on ‘patriotic’ exchange trips to mainland China
- Social Welfare Department says funding arrangement aims at enhancing NGOs’ understanding of national affairs
- HK$100 million part of HK$500 million dedicated fund that Chief Executive John Lee announced in policy address in October
Hong Kong authorities have proposed allocating HK$100 million (US$12.8 million) to social welfare organisations to arrange national study programmes and exchange tours to mainland China.
But social welfare sector lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen expressed scepticism over the move, saying it unreasonably placed excessive emphasis on national education amid serious financial constraints on the public sector.
In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council on Tuesday, the Social Welfare Department said the funding arrangement aimed at enhancing NGOs’ understanding of national affairs, including social welfare services and national security awareness.
The subsidies were part of a HK$500 million dedicated fund that Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced in his policy address last October.
The fund, which aims to help NGOs providing subvented services meet their development needs for staff training and system enhancement, is expected to be launched in the second quarter of this year for five years.
Details of the application process will be announced later.