If you or your organisation have a creative idea to help stamp out illegal drug use, you are welcome to apply for a grant from the Beat Drugs Fund. Hurry: The deadline for application is January 15.

The Fund aims to promote worthwhile anti-drug projects which help reduce drug abuse, particularly among youths, and promote community-wide efforts in the campaign against drug abuse.

Normally, the maximun grant is $3 million for a period of up to two years. Projects that are deemed to be exceptionally innovative may recieve up to $5 million for a three-year period.

Applications for projects costing $40,000 or less will not be considered.

History of the fund

The Beat Drugs Fund was set up by the Government in 1996 with a capital base of $350 million to subsidise worthwhile community projects in the fight against drugs.

So far, it has helped support 254 projects involving a total sum of $120 million.

Of them, about $35 million were for 55 treatment and rehabilitation projects, $76 million for 190 preventive education and publicity projects, $4 million for six research projects and $5 million for three miscellaneous projects.

Please click here to download application forms and details. They are also available for collection at the Fund's Secretariat at 30/F, High Block, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway; Home Affairs Department's Public Enquiry Service Centres; and the District Social Welfare Offices.

Questions? Call 2867 2737 or 2867 2286, send a fax to 2810 1790 or an email to sbeon4@sb.gov.hk.