CHAPTER 2
THE HONG KONG APPROACH TO SOCIAL SECURITY
Role of social security
2.1
The role which is played by social security in the social fabric varies from country to country, reflecting differing historical circumstances, social and economic conditions and political judgements. But the most important principle is that each country should choose the form of social security which suits it best.
2.2
Therefore any consideration of the further development of social security in Hong Kong must depend upon what is judged to be the best system for Hong Kong. There is no reason why Hong Kong, any more than any other place, should be unduly influenced by what is done elsewhere.
The Hong Kong approach
2.3
The Government has not attempted to duplicate the pattern of social security found in the developed countries. In particular, it has not introduced a compulsory social insurance scheme covering the whole population. Instead, it has concentrated on helping those who are least able to help themselves, which means primarily those in vulnerable groups - the elderly, the disabled and the poor.
2.4
The Government is convinced that this remains the right approach. It recognises that there is a limit to the resources available for social security, given the claims of many other desirable objectives. It takes account of the fact that there is no evidence that the community in general would prefer to see resources diverted from housing and the other social services to social security, so long as social security arrangements are not manifestly inadequate. Furthermore, by concentrating social security on helping the most vulnerable groups in the community, the best use is made of available recources.
2.5
The Government attaches considerable importance to retaining simplicity in the structure of social security and in its administration. To some extent, this makes it more difficult to meet all individual needs. But this disadvantage is outweighed by the benefits of a simple system which keeps to a minimum the proportion of social security expenditure which is spent on administration. A complicated system, of which the workings are not understood, loses much of its impact.
Review of social security
2.6
The Government has reviewed existing social security provisions to see how far they fulfil the aim of helping those in need in as effective and as simple a way as possible.
2.7
The main proposals emerging from the review are directly related to needs which can be readily identified and which, the Government believes,
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