/needs
-78--17-
to retain some part time carnings in addition to her public
assistance allowance. A further extension of the scheme to
include widows with young children is not therefore proposed.
Limitations of existing schemes
30.
As this memorandum has shown, so far social security
in Hong Kong has fallen into 3 categories -means-tested (the
public assistance scheme), non means-tested but needs-related
old age
(the disability and infirmity allowance scheme and the
accident compensation schemes) and employment
statutory and voluntary schemes).
31.
related (both
Each category is designed for a specific purpose,
but outside that purpose is of limited value.
But,
Where
a) The public assistance scheme is an effective
means of helping families with low income.
being a family means test, can only be used to
help families with low overall resources.
there is more than one wage earner (and 50.75%
of families, according to the 1976 By-Census
have more than one earning member), the public
assistance scheme is of limited value even though
the families are hardhit by having a wage earner
+
away from work due to sickness. If the public
assistance scheme were to be used, the scheme
would have to be radically altered to follow the
European system where dependants of working age
are not treated as family members. That would be
an expensive solution and would not be in keeping
with the family tradition in Hong Kong.
old age
b) The disability and infirmity allowance scheme
could of course be used. But this is a non-means
tested benefit. As such, it is acceptable so
long as it is/related. But there is a limit to