5.
Moreover, social security provisions must be viewed alongside the very extensive social welfare programme which provides help across a wide field. Cash provision is by no means the only form support required by a community. Help with accommodation, family problems, and so on are just as vital a service.
6.
Turning now to Appendix 2 which refers to specific social security items the position as far as this Department is concerned is this:-
(a) 27.10
"transitory provisions for those already too old or for other reasons unable to contribute to (a social security) scheme"
It is indicated that these provisions were not achieved by 1974. The DIA scheme introduced on 1st April, 1973 specifically provides non-means tested, non-contributory, benefit for people of 75 and over, and for the severely disabled. An extension to cover widows with young children and the chronic sick is foreshadowed in the Five Year Plan.
Comment Strictly speaking the DIA scheme should not be regarded at present as a "transitory provision" leading towards a contributory scheme; and it would be wrong to present it as such.
It is regarded as a logical step in developing a balanced social security scheme to meet the needs of Hong Kong (page 5 of the 5 Year Plan). Nevertheless it exists; it could be a bridging step; and it compares favourably with U.K. provision which only gives non-contributory pensions to those over 80 years who were not covered at 1948 by the then U.K. contributory insurance schemes; and such pensions unlike DIA are offset against any payment of supplementary benefit the U.K. equivalent of public assistance.
(b) 27.11 - New ways of assisting ("not necessarily by direct
financial aid") widows especially those with young children
Indicated that this has not been achieved by 1974, and that the Government is still exploring. In social security terms, cash provision is in fact contemplated through a possible extension of the DIA scheme (page 10 of the 5 Year Plan).
Comment - It is difficult to respond directly as non-cash assistance can involve home help services, day care nurseries, and so on. A fair amount of Family Services activity exists and much of it is within the voluntary sector.