Thursday, May 24, 1973
THE DISABILITY AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE SCHEME
The Deputy Director of Social Welfare, Mr. Thomas C.Y. Lee,
said today that the primary purpose of the disability and infirmity
allowance is to help the severely disabled and elderly infirm to meet
their extra and special needs.
He said it was never intended that the allowance was for helping
with their basic needs in food and other daily necessities.
He said some people have misunderstood this and therefore have
criticised the rate of payment as being too low to enable beneficiaries
to subsist on it.
"Actually those beneficiaries can also apply for public assistance
which is intended to help meet their basic needs," Mr. Lee said.
Mr. Lee, who was addressing the Lions Club of Tai Ping Shan
at its luncheon meeting at the Mandarin Hotel, explained that both the
public assistance scheme introduced in 1971, and the disability and
infirmity allowance scheme were run by his department, and were the two
main forms of social security in Hong Kong.
"Under the public assistance scheme, cash assistance is provided
for the needy on passing a means test. As to the disability and infirmity
allowance, it is, however, awarded to the severely disabled and the elderly
infirm without a means test."
/Mr. Lee