LCQ19: Arts and Sport Development Fund
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Question:
Regarding the Arts and Sport Development Fund (ASDF), will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the total amount of funding allocated in each of the past three financial years by the Home Affairs Bureau under the sports portion of ASDF to various national sports associations for supporting athletes' preparation for and participation in major international multi-sport games, National Games, as well as competitions of various sports at World and Asian levels; and
(2) whether it will inject funds into the ASDF to strengthen the support provided for athletes participating in the aforesaid sport games and competitions; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
Our responses to the questions raised by Dr the Hon Lo Wai-kwok are as follows:
(1) The respective amounts of funding approved under the Arts and Sport Development Fund (ASDF) (Sports Portion) to support eligible athletes' preparation and participation in major international multi-sports games, National Games and other competitions at World and Asian levels in the financial years of 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 were $35.45 million, $44 million and $4.44 million.
(2) With the approval of the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council in January 2019, the Government injected $1 billion into the ASDF (Sports Portion). The balance of ASDF (Sports Portion) was $2.58 billion as at June 30, 2021. It is anticipated that there are sufficient funds in the ASDF (Sports Portion) to meet the funding needs in the next 10 years.
Ends/Wednesday, August 18, 2021
Issued at HKT 12:00
Issued at HKT 12:00
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