Chapter 2
Review of Past Development and Present Services
2.1
Used in its broadest sense the term "social welfare” can embrace all efforts aimed at improving health, education, employment, housing, recreational and cultural services for the community at large. However, for the purpose of this White Paper, “social welfare" will be used in a narrower sense as the range of services provided by the Social Welfare Department and the voluntary welfare sector. The two essential components are cash payments, generally known as "social security", and "direct social welfare services" for specific groups who cannot manage without them. In the case of services for the elderly, an exception has been made to include health and housing services in order to present a total picture, as was done in the Green Paper on Services for the Elderly.
Social Security
2.2
Social security in the form of cash payments was first introduced in 1971 and replaced the system of basic relief, principally dry rations and cooked meals, which had been in force in the 1950's and 1960's. The three main schemes that have been introduced are:
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
since 1971, the Public Assistance scheme which helps on a means-tested but non- contributory basis those whose income falls below a prescribed level. Able-bodied unemployed adults between 15 and 55 who were hitherto ineligible for benefits were brought within the scheme in April 1977;
since 1973, the Disability and Old Age Allowance scheme (now known as the Special Needs Allowance) which provides a flat rate allowance on a non-means-tested and non-contributory basis, to two vulnerable groups, namely the severely disabled and elderly persons aged 75 (70 since October 1978) and over. This allowance is disregarded when calculating Public Assistance;
accident compensation and emergency relief in the form of the Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation scheme (since 1973) and the Emergency Relief Fund scheme (since 1962). The former assists victims of crimes of violence and those accidentally injured or disabled by law enforcement action whilst the latter (formerly known as the Community Relief Trust Fund) provides immediate relief in both cash and material aid to disaster victims.
In addition to these schemes, the Government administers various funds which help those in need. These include the Brewin Trust Fund, the Hong Kong War Memorial Fund, the Li Po Chun Charitable Trust Fund, the Sir Robert Ho Tung Charitable Fund and the Tang Shiu Kin and Ho Tim Charitable Fund. Limited financial assistance is also available from individual voluntary agencies although in general, they have ceased to play a major role in cash aid since the Public Assistance scheme started in 1971.
Occupational benefits
2.3
In addition to cash payments which are the direct responsibility of the Government, employers provide a range of occupational benefits including those under statutory stimulus. These include sickness allowance, severance payments, paid holidays and workmen's compensation for injuries or death arising from employment. Employees of some of the larger companies also
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