Politics
Tsim Sha Tsui Community Centre Secures Expanded Funding Under 2026 Bill
The legislation directs additional operating grants to district social service providers that serve Tsim Sha Tsui residents through existing community halls and outreach teams.
How we reported this
The Social Welfare (Community Support) Amendment Bill 2026, passed by the Legislative Council on 7 July, raises the annual operating grant ceiling for district-level community service providers by 18 per cent starting in the 2026-27 financial year. The change applies directly to organisations operating from the Tsim Sha Tsui Community Hall and adjacent outreach offices that deliver meals-on-wheels, elderly day care and family counselling.
Why the change arrives now
District council records show Tsim Sha Tsui’s registered population aged 65 and above rose from 12 400 in 2021 to 15 800 in 2025. The legislation states that the grant formula will now incorporate the latest census counts when calculating baseline funding for each district. Policy analysts note the adjustment responds to the Social Welfare Department’s March 2026 district profile report, which flagged longer waiting lists at Tsim Sha Tsui facilities.
Local residents will see the first visible effect in October when the Tsim Sha Tsui Community Hall extends its weekday opening hours from 6 pm to 8 pm. The extra two hours are intended to accommodate working family members collecting meal packs or attending carer support sessions. Outreach teams will also add one additional weekly visit to the Hung Hom ferry pier area to register new elderly clients.
Budget figures and service targets
The 2026-27 estimates table attached to the bill lists an extra HK$4.2 million for the Yau Tsim Mong district, of which Tsim Sha Tsui providers are projected to receive HK$1.9 million. The figure is calculated from the number of registered service users reported by each centre on 31 March 2026. The legislation requires quarterly reporting to the Social Welfare Department on the number of new clients enrolled and the average wait time for day-care places.
Next steps include publication of the detailed grant allocation schedule by the Social Welfare Department on 15 August. District organisations must submit revised service plans by 30 September before drawing down the first tranche of funds in October. The same schedule sets a mid-year review meeting for February 2027 to adjust targets if actual enrolment exceeds the projections contained in the bill’s financial annex.