SOCIAL WELFARE
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welfare services in their district. The department includes a Development Branch and a Social Security Branch which are responsible for the central planning and development of new policy in social welfare and social security, and a Subventions Branch which deals with the central administration of subventions to voluntary organisations and evaluation of services provided by them.
On all matters of social welfare policy, except rehabilitation, the government is advised by the Social Welfare Advisory Committee, whose members are appointed by the Governor and which is chaired by the Director of Social Welfare. The Rehabilitation Development Co- ordinating Committee, also appointed by the Governor, advises on the policy and principles governing the development of rehabilitation services and is chaired by an unofficial member. In the day-to-day administration, planning and development of services, the Social Welfare Department works closely with voluntary agencies which play a major role in the provision of many welfare services. The majority of voluntary agencies are affiliated to the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and are involved, together with the council and the department, in the annual review of the Five-Year Plan for Social Welfare Development. In November it was announced that as a result of a reorganisation of responsibilities in the Government Secretariat, the Social Services Branch will be re-formed as the Health and Welfare Branch in early 1983.
Social Security
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Social security schemes administered by the Social Welfare Department are the Public Assistance Scheme, the Special Needs Allowance Scheme, the Criminal and Law Enforce- ment Injuries Compensation Scheme, the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Scheme and Emergency Relief.
The Public Assistance Scheme, which is means-tested but non-contributory, is designed to provide a basic level of income for individuals and families who are most in need. To be eligible, an applicant must normally satisfy a one-year residence requirement, but the Director of Social Welfare is empowered to waive this in cases of particular hardship. Apart from meeting the residential qualification, able-bodied unemployed applicants aged between 15 and 59 are required to register with the Local Employment Services of the Labour Department to seek employment. Young people aged between 15 and 17 are eligible as dependents of their families unless they are orphans or persons without relatives. The scales of assistance are kept under regular review and increased from time to time in line with the cost of living to maintain their purchasing power. The last revision was made in June, 1982, when the rates were increased by 29 per cent. The existing monthly basic rate is $450 for a single person; $325 for each of the first three eligible members of a family; $280 for each of the succeeding three; and $215 for each eligible member thereafter. In addition to the basic scale allowance, special supplements such as old age supplement, disability supplement and long-term supplement can be given. An old age supplement of $225 per month is given to those aged 60 years and over who are on public assistance but are not in receipt of the special needs allowance. A disability supplement of $225 per month is payable to those public assistance recipients who are medically certified as partially disabled, with a 50 per cent or more loss of earning capacity and who are not receiving old age supplement or special needs allowance. An annual long-term supplement of $1,140 for a family, or $570 for a single person, is given to those who have received public assistance continuously for 12 months to meet additional expenditure on replacement of essential household items. Where applicable, additional grants are given to cover rent, schooling expenses, special diets and other essential requirements.