(885363) Dd. 896639 1,000M 8/71 St.S.
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
Registry No.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret.
Secret.
Confidential.
Restricted. Unclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
..In Confidence
DRAFT BBP
To:-
BRIEF
Type 1 +
From
Telephone No, & Ext.
to Hong Kong
Department
Sir Leslie Monson's Visit to Hang
April 1972.
J
176
SOCIAL SERVICES:
1.
PUBLIC ASSISTANCE
Revised arrangements for public assistance
(allowances in cash in place of dry rations) were
introduced at the beginning of 1971. The
number receiving assistance under the new scheme
in January 1971
rose from 7,000 to over 13,000 at the beginning of
^
1972.
2.
Further improvements were announced in this year's
budget.-
(a) 60% rise in the scales of assistance,
(b) higher allowances for rent,
(c) more generous help for those on special
diet.
3. The Social Welfare Department have claimed
that "with these improvements the Hong Kong public
assistance scheme will provide by far the most
effective system in South East Asia - perhaps the
whole of Asia of guaranteed income for those in
need"
-
4. However during the debate on the budget the
new rates were described by Unofficial Members as
"meagre" and "inadequate". Some stressed the "need
for widened scope and speedy implementation" and
others argued that "aged people in need should be
/granted