The Lotteries Fund has allocated 466.18 million HK dollars (US$59.76 million) to finance social welfare service programs from January to March this year, Hong Kong Social Welfare Department said on Thursday.

The social welfare support services received 415.37 million HK dollars (US$53.25 million), rehabilitation services got 20.62 million HK dollars (US$2.64 million), family and child welfare got 19.21 million HK dollars (US$2.46 million), elderly and medical social services 2.89 million HK dollars (US$370,512) and youth services 2.5 million HK dollars (US$320,512).

The fund was established to finance, by way of grants, loans or advances, the operation or development of social welfare services and medical or educational projects with a welfare content.

(Xinhua News Agency April 22, 2005)