11.8
į
Private services may be an alternative to Government financed services in social welfare just as much as in education and health. For example, far fewer home helpers than amahs are employed; and there are privately run nurseries as well as subvented nurseries. So far, there has been no attempt by the Government to direct the private sector. Thus private services exist in response to market forces. It is a matter of chance, therefore, if they are evenly spread throughout Hong Kong. The provision of other private welfare services which exist outside the social welfare planning machinery is also haphazard.
11.9
To a large extent, Government financed social welfare services cater for those with limited financial resources. The better off tend to buy them, if they are available for purchase. This tendency is encouraged in Hong Kong by aiming Government financed services (for example, nurseries) specifically at the lower income groups. This leads to the question whether, if there were more social security provision, or if instead of subventions to agencies, cash grants were given to individuals, Government financed services could be reduced or even phased out, leaving those who need social welfare services to purchase them like any other service.
Replacing Government financed services by individual cash subsidies
11.10 If Government financed social welfare services were to be replaced by individual cash subsidies, enabling a person to buy his own service, the Government would have to be satisfied :-
first, that private provision would give as good a service as Government financed services;
that the cost to the client would not be significantly more than it would be if it were provided on a "break- even" basis by Government financed services; and
that the alternative would constitute an effective use of available resources.
If these criteria were not satisfied, those who rely on social welfare services would be worse off.
11.11 There are admittedly gaps in the present coverage of social welfare services; some are not provided fully or evenly throughout Hong Kong. Nursery care is an example. Places at subvented agencies are available only for a limited number, who may not be the families who need them most. By contrast, some services provided on a private basis are available throughout Hong Kong. For example, help in the home with house- hold work is available (on payment) nearly everywhere.
11.12 Nonetheless, it is difficult to be confident that services provided privately, without any overall planning, would provide as adequately for those in vulnerable groups, as services financed by the Government and provided either by Government directly or by voluntary agencies. Services provided by market forces will respond to demand and profitability, but
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