Application for Access to Information regarding the Funding Scheme to Support the Use of Vacant Government Sites by Non-government Organisations
Dear Development Bureau Planning and Lands Matters,
I am writing to request information under the Code on Access to Information regarding the utilization of funds and project status for the captioned Funding Scheme. My request references the "Progress Report on Implementation of Funding Scheme to Support the Use of Vacant Government Sites by Non-government Organisations" (LC Paper No. CB(1)688/2023(05)), submitted to the Legislative Council Panel on Development in June 2023.
I would like to request the following specific details, which were not included in the 2023 Progress Report:
1. Financial Utilization Status (as of the latest available date) The 2023 report lists the "Ceiling of Funding Approved" for approved projects. I request the following updated figures:
a) The actual total expenditure disbursed to NGOs under the scheme to date (not just the approved ceiling).
b) A breakdown of actual expenditure versus the approved funding ceiling for the 7 completed projects listed in the 2023 report.
c) The exact uncommitted balance remaining of the original $1 billion allocation.
2. Application Statistics
a) The total number of applications received since the scheme's inception.
b) The total number of applications rejected by the Assessment Committee.
c) A summary of the primary reasons for these rejections.
d) The number of approved projects (if any) that were subsequently withdrawn by the applicant or terminated prior to completion.
3. Project Delays and Updates For projects listed in the 2023 report as "Construction works in progress" (Items 8-14) or "Detailed design... in progress" (Items 15-23):
a) Please provide a status update on whether these projects met their "Expected Completion Time" as stated in the report.
b) For any projects that have exceeded their expected completion time, please provide the current revised completion date and the primary reasons for the delay (e.g., technical issues, cost overruns).
4. Scheme Review The 2023 report mentioned a potential review of the scheme's effectiveness.
a) Has this review been conducted? If so, please provide a copy of the review findings or an executive summary.
b) Are there any planned changes to the funding cap ($60 million) or scope of coverage based on this review?
I would prefer to receive this information by email/digital format.
Thank you for your assistance.
Yours faithfully,
Jon Pedersen
This message is to acknowledge receipt of your e-mail message. For any
enquiries on the removal of scaffold nets announced by the Development
Bureau on 3 December 2025, please contact the Buildings Department
directly at 3842 3451. Thank you. （The above is generated by an
auto-reply programme) 我們已收到閣下的電子郵件。 如欲查詢發展局於2025年12
月3日宣布有關棚網下架的事宜，請直接致電3842 3451與屋宇署聯絡。謝謝。 （以
上為電腦自動發出的信息） Development Bureau 發展局
Dear Mr. Pedersen,
We are currently following up your request made under the Code on Access
to Information and we will provide you with a substantive reply as soon as
possible. Thank you.
Regards,
(Cherolyn YUEN)
for Access to Information Officer
Development Bureau (Planning and Lands Branch)
Dear Mr. Pedersen,
Please find below the requested information following the numbering in
your request.
1. a) The total funding disbursed under the Funding Scheme as at 28
February 2025 was about $513.7 million.
b) The approved funding ceiling and the funding disbursed as at 28
February 2025 for the 7 completed projects listed in the 2023 report are
as follows –
Item Site Name of Short-term Ceiling Funding
No. in Location Uses Applied of Disbursed
2023 Applicant for Funding
report Approved ($
million)
($
million) (as at 28
February
2025)
1 Nam Sang Yuen Long Community 7.5 5.9
Wai, Yuen service
Long Kam Kwong
(Ex‑Small centre
Traders New Church
Village
Public
School)
2 Shing Sai Rough C Community 38.2 37.4
Road, garden
Kennedy Town
3 Kam Tin, House of Joy Animal 13.9 13.4
Yuen Long & rehoming
centre
Mercy
4 Victoria Society for Transitional 7.4 5.6
Road, Mount Community housing
Davis Organization
(Ex-Mount
Davis
Caritas
Centre and
Ex-Mount
Davis
Caritas
Jockey Club
Hostel)
5 Ta Kwu Ling, Hong Kong Guide dog 56.4 47.8
North Seeing Eye training
District Dog Services school
(Ex-Sam Wo
Public
School)
6 Tan Kwai Muhammadia Community 23.6 21.5
Tsuen, Yuen Ghosia service
Long Islamic centre
(Ex-Ying Yin Association
Catholic
Primary
School)
7 Quarry Bay St. James’ Open 60.0 53.9
harbourfront Settlement recreation
and
sitting-out
area
c) In July 2024, the Development Bureau (DEVB) sought the approval of the
Finance Committee of the Legislative Council for an increase in the
approved commitment of the Funding Scheme from $1 billion to $1.5 billion.
As at 28 February 2025, the total committed amount under the Funding
Scheme was $994 million.
2. a), b) & c) As at 28 February 2025, DEVB had received 40 funding
applications under the Funding Scheme, 30 of which had been approved.
Processing of the remaining applications had been underway.
d) So far, no approved project has been subsequently withdrawn by the
applicant or terminated prior to completion.
3. a) For projects listed in Annex B of the 2023 report with
“Construction works in progress”, the actual completion dates are
largely in line with the expected completion dates. Details are as
follows –
Item Site Location Name of Short-term Uses Expected Actual
No. in Applied for Completion Completion
2023 Applicant
report
10 Cox’s Road, Hong Kong Theatre education Q3 2023 Jan 2024
Yau Tsim Mong Repertory centre
(Ex‑Portuguese Theatre
Community
School)
11 Chuen Lung, Hong Kong Photography Q3 2023 Feb 2024
Tsuen Wan Photographic resource centre
(Ex-Koon Man
School) Culture
Association
12 San Tin, Fruit Garden Community service Q3 2023 Nov 2023
Social centre
Yuen Long Enterprise
(Ex-Chuk Hing
Public School)
13 Kam Tin, HK Saving Animal rehoming Q3 2023 Jan 2024
Cat and Dog centre
Yuen Long Association
14 Ping Shan, Tin Shui Wai Farming and Q3 2023 Jan 2024
Community fishery
Tin Shui Wai
Development education centre
Network
15 Mai Po, Anfield Non-profit-making Q4 2023 Jan 2024
Hearts school for
Yuen Long Foundation children with
(Ex-Koon Ying special
Public School) educational needs
16 Chap Wai Kon Food Angel Non-profit-making Q4 2024 Feb 2025
Village, by Bo food production
Charity centre
Sha Tin Foundation
b) Due to external and unforeseen factors such as inclement weather, site
constraints and/or technical difficulties, the above projects required a
longer completion time than originally scheduled.
4. a) & b) In July 2024, DEVB sought the approval of the Finance
Committee of the Legislative Council for an increase in the approved
commitment of the Funding Scheme from $1 billion to $1.5 billion, as
well the implementation of enhancement measures proposed by DEVB upon
review. These enhancement measures include (i) increasing the funding
ceiling for projects with site area larger than 2 000 square metres by
an additional $10 million and/or without vehicular access by an
additional $10 million ; and (ii) expanding the scope of funding to
cover the costs for preparation of technical assessments and
submissions for short-term tenancy (STT) applications for the use of
vacant government sites. For details, please refer to the relevant
funding approval paper at
[1]https://www.devb.gov.hk/filemanager/en/c....
Regards,
(Cherolyn YUEN)
for Access to Information Officer
Development Bureau (Planning and Lands Branch)
From: PLB Enquiry/DEVB <[Development Bureau Planning and Lands Matters request email]>
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2026 4:08 PM
To: [FOI #1559 email]
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request - Application for Access to
Information regarding the Funding Scheme to Support the Use of Vacant
Government Sites by Non-government Organisations
Dear Mr. Pedersen,
We are currently following up your request made under the Code on Access
to Information and we will provide you with a substantive reply as soon as
possible. Thank you.
Regards,
(Cherolyn YUEN)
for Access to Information Officer
Development Bureau (Planning and Lands Branch)
Dear Mr. Pedersen,
Please find below the requested information following the numbering in
your request.
1. a) The total funding disbursed under the Funding Scheme as at 28
February 2025 was about $513.7 million.
b) The approved funding ceiling and the funding disbursed as at 28
February 2025 for the 7 completed projects listed in the 2023 report are
as follows –
Item Site Name of Short-term Ceiling Funding
No. in Location Uses Applied of Disbursed
2023 Applicant for Funding
report Approved ($
million)
($
million) (as at 28
February
2025)
1 Nam Sang Yuen Long Community 7.5 5.9
Wai, Yuen service
Long Kam Kwong
(Ex‑Small centre
Traders New Church
Village
Public
School)
2 Shing Sai Rough C Community 38.2 37.4
Road, garden
Kennedy Town
3 Kam Tin, House of Joy Animal 13.9 13.4
Yuen Long & rehoming
centre
Mercy
4 Victoria Society for Transitional 7.4 5.6
Road, Mount Community housing
Davis Organization
(Ex-Mount
Davis
Caritas
Centre and
Ex-Mount
Davis
Caritas
Jockey Club
Hostel)
5 Ta Kwu Ling, Hong Kong Guide dog 56.4 47.8
North Seeing Eye training
District Dog Services school
(Ex-Sam Wo
Public
School)
6 Tan Kwai Muhammadia Community 23.6 21.5
Tsuen, Yuen Ghosia service
Long Islamic centre
(Ex-Ying Yin Association
Catholic
Primary
School)
7 Quarry Bay St. James’ Open 60.0 53.9
harbourfront Settlement recreation
and
sitting-out
area
c) In July 2024, the Development Bureau (DEVB) sought the approval of the
Finance Committee of the Legislative Council for an increase in the
approved commitment of the Funding Scheme from $1 billion to $1.5 billion.
As at 28 February 2025, the total committed amount under the Funding
Scheme was $994 million.
2. a), b) & c) As at 28 February 2025, DEVB had received 40 funding
applications under the Funding Scheme, 30 of which had been approved.
Processing of the remaining applications had been underway.
d) So far, no approved project has been subsequently withdrawn by the
applicant or terminated prior to completion.
3. a) For projects listed in Annex B of the 2023 report with
“Construction works in progress”, the actual completion dates are
largely in line with the expected completion dates. Details are as
follows –
Item Site Location Name of Short-term Uses Expected Actual
No. in Applied for Completion Completion
2023 Applicant
report
10 Cox’s Road, Hong Kong Theatre education Q3 2023 Jan 2024
Yau Tsim Mong Repertory centre
(Ex‑Portuguese Theatre
Community
School)
11 Chuen Lung, Hong Kong Photography Q3 2023 Feb 2024
Tsuen Wan Photographic resource centre
(Ex-Koon Man
School) Culture
Association
12 San Tin, Fruit Garden Community service Q3 2023 Nov 2023
Social centre
Yuen Long Enterprise
(Ex-Chuk Hing
Public School)
13 Kam Tin, HK Saving Animal rehoming Q3 2023 Jan 2024
Cat and Dog centre
Yuen Long Association
14 Ping Shan, Tin Shui Wai Farming and Q3 2023 Jan 2024
Community fishery
Tin Shui Wai
Development education centre
Network
15 Mai Po, Anfield Non-profit-making Q4 2023 Jan 2024
Hearts school for
Yuen Long Foundation children with
(Ex-Koon Ying special
Public School) educational needs
16 Chap Wai Kon Food Angel Non-profit-making Q4 2024 Feb 2025
Village, by Bo food production
Charity centre
Sha Tin Foundation
b) Due to external and unforeseen factors such as inclement weather, site
constraints and/or technical difficulties, the above projects required a
longer completion time than originally scheduled.
4. a) & b) In July 2024, DEVB sought the approval of the Finance
Committee of the Legislative Council for an increase in the approved
commitment of the Funding Scheme from $1 billion to $1.5 billion, as
well the implementation of enhancement measures proposed by DEVB upon
review. These enhancement measures include (i) increasing the funding
ceiling for projects with site area larger than 2 000 square metres by
an additional $10 million and/or without vehicular access by an
additional $10 million ; and (ii) expanding the scope of funding to
cover the costs for preparation of technical assessments and
submissions for short-term tenancy (STT) applications for the use of
vacant government sites. For details, please refer to the relevant
funding approval paper at
[1]https://www.devb.gov.hk/filemanager/en/c....
Regards,
(Cherolyn YUEN)
for Access to Information Officer
Development Bureau (Planning and Lands Branch)
From: PLB Enquiry/DEVB <[2][Development Bureau Planning and Lands Matters request email]>
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2026 4:08 PM
To: [3][FOI #1559 email]
Subject: Re: Freedom of Information request - Application for Access to
Information regarding the Funding Scheme to Support the Use of Vacant
Government Sites by Non-government Organisations
Dear Mr. Pedersen,
We are currently following up your request made under the Code on Access
to Information and we will provide you with a substantive reply as soon as
possible. Thank you.
Regards,
(Cherolyn YUEN)
for Access to Information Officer
Development Bureau (Planning and Lands Branch)