BACKGROUND NOTE
SOCIAL WELFARE BENEFITS IN HONG KONG
1. Social welfare benefits in Hong Kong are principally covered by
the Public Assistance Scheme. The Scheme is means-tested and is
designed to bring the income for a single person or a family up to
a level at which essential needs can be met. In addition to the
basic scale of payments, supplementary assistance may be given to
cover rent, school expenses, special diets and other circumstances.
An Old Age Supplement is paid to people who do not receive the Old
Age Allowance and there is an Annual Long Term Supplement payable,
to those who have relied on public assistance for more than 12
months, to meet extra costs for the replacement of household wares
and durable goods. There are plans to include a supplement for
the partially disabled who are eligible for public assistance.
The rates of public assistance are up-dated regularly.
last done on 1 February 1978 and the next revision is due shortly.
Special Needs Allowances which are not means-tested are paid
to two vulnerable groups; the over 70s, who receive an Old Age
Allowance and the severely disabled.
2.
This was
3. Both public assistance and the Special Needs Allowances
are non-contributory. A contributory scheme to provide insurance against the risks of sickness, injury, retirement and death was proposed in a Green Paper published in 1977. Although no decision has been taken on its implementation, the Governor confirmed in his speech at the opening of the current session of the Hong Kong Legislative Council that the Government still intend to
introduce proposals to provide this coverage.
4.
The Hong Kong Government also provide substantial social welfare
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