Background
CONFIDENTIAL
SOCIAL PROGRESS IN HONG KONG
BRIEF C
Extended Public Assistance Scheme
1. On 6 October of last year, at the opening of the current session of the Legislative Council, the Governor announced that Hong Kong's present public assistance scheme would be extended to include unemployed able-bodied males between 15 and 55 years old. This group had suffered particularly during the 1973/73 recession. While welcoming the extension of the scheme, Ministers felt some misgivings about the criteria for receipt of the new form of public assistance. After exchanges with the Governor, it was eventually agreed that public assistance should be available to those who have lived in Hong Kong for 2 years and have been unemployed for one month. The new scheme was approved by the Finance Committee of the Legislative Council on 19 January and will come into force in Hong Kong on 1 April.
Proposal to second an expert in social welfare matters to the Hong Kong Government
The
2. After prompting from the Office, the Hong Kong Government wrote to Mr Heppell, Assistant Secretary in the Department of Health and Social Security, and asked him to help with the conduct of a comprehensive review of social welfare arrangements. DHSS have agreed to release Mr Heppell and he will go to Hong Kong in April for 6 months. We shall now wish to offer comments on the terms of reference that the Hong Kong Government have drawn up for the review of their social welfare arrangements and to consider meanwhile whether the Hong Kong Government need to review their longer term plans, particularly in the field of social security.
Secondary Education in Hong Kong
3. There was some discussion of education matters between the Minister and the Governor on 9 December, concentrating on the
The Governor undertook cost and provision of secondary education.
that plans would be made to pick up the 11% of 12-14 year olds for
CONFIDENTIAL.
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