Applications Open for 19th Round of Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged Starting Today

Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged opens for new round of applications

The Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged (PFD), managed by the Social Welfare Department (SWD), is inviting 19th round Regular Portion and 12th round Dedicated Portion applications starting from today (December 18). Eligible welfare non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as well as primary and secondary schools can submit applications from today to 30 October 2026.

The Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged (PFD), Photo source: online screenshot

The Government set up the Regular Portion of the PFD in 2005 to promote tripartite partnership among the welfare sector, business corporations and the Government by providing matching grants to jointly support the disadvantaged. If a business corporation makes a donation to support welfare NGOs in implementing welfare projects, the fund will provide matching grants. Since the initiation of the Dedicated Portion in 2015, the welfare sector, business community, schools, and the Government have been collaborating to provide more after-school learning and support programmes for primary and secondary students from grassroots families to facilitate their whole-person development.

Through the Regular Portion of the PFD, matching grants totalling over $627 million were approved for collaboration with approximately 1 900 business partners to support over 230 welfare NGOs, implementing around 1 200 welfare projects that have benefited more than 1 million disadvantaged individuals. Additionally, the fund and about 500 business partners have, through the $366 million Dedicated Portion, supported nearly 70 welfare NGOs and 100 schools, implementing about 580 after-school learning and support projects for primary and secondary students from grassroots families, benefiting nearly 140 000 students.

For application details of the new round of the PFD, please visit the following Social Welfare Department webpages or contact the PFD Secretariat (Tel: 3468 2710/3468 2718; Email: pfdenq@swd.gov.hk).

Regular Portion: www.swd.gov.hk/en/svcdesk/funds/partnership/

Dedicated Portion: www.swd.gov.hk/en/svcdesk/funds/dedicatedportion/

The Social Welfare Department, Photo source: reference image

Hong Kong Customs detect a drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airport

Hong Kong Customs detected a drug trafficking case involving an incoming passenger at Hong Kong International Airport today (April 4) and seized about 4.4 kilograms of suspected heroin with an estimated market value of about $2.9 million.

A 20-year-old male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Penang, Malaysia, today. During Customs clearance, Customs officers found about 4.4kg of suspected heroin inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

The arrested man has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will bebrought up at the Eastern Magistrates' Courts on April 6.

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs detect a drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs detect a drug trafficking case involving incoming passenger at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases