TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1984
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SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM ADEQUATE FOR ITS PURPOSE
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DIRECTOR
HONG KONG'S SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM IS ADEQUATE FOR ITS PURPOSE OF ENSURING THAT EACH FAMILY HAS SUFFICIENT MONEY TO PROVIDE FOR THE BASIC REQUIREMENTS OF FOOD, SHELTER AND OTHER AMENITIES, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY)
SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF HONG KONG NORTHWEST, HE SAID: +WHEN WE TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES PROVIDED IN OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE - EDUCATION, HOUSING, HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE - I SEE NO REASON TO BE APOLOGETIC ABOUT OUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN THIS FIELD.+
MR CHAMBERS NOTED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A STEADY INCREASE IN APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE IN RECENT YEARS.
AT THE END OF 1980, THERE WERE ONLY 45 600 FAMILIES RECEIVING ASSISTANCE. THE 1983 FIGURE OF 54 700 REPRESENTS ABOUT A 20 PER CENT INCREASE, HE SAID.
THE ESTIMATED PROVISION FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IN THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR IS $540 MILLION, AS COMPARED WITH ONLY $222 MILLION IN TOTAL PAYMENTS IN 1980-81.
+THIS INCREASE IS OF COURSE ONLY PARTLY DUE TO THE INCREASE IN CASELOAD,+ HE SAID.
+THE REST IS DUE TO THE HIGHER LEVEL OF BENEFITS.+
MR CHAMBERS DESCRIBED THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SYSTEM AS +AN
INCOME MAINTENANCE SCHEME.+
+ IN OTHER WORDS, HE SAID, THERE ARE PRESCRIBED LEVELS OF INCOME FOR FAMILIES OF VARIOUS SIZES AND IF THE FAMILY'S TOTAL INCOME FALLS BELOW THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL, THE DIFFERENCE IS MADE UP BY MEANS OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS.+
IN ADDITION TO THE INCOME TEST, THERE IS A SAVINGS LIMIT OF $6 450 FOR A SINGLE PERSON ON HIS OWN, OR $4 300 FOR EACH MEMBER OF A FAMILY. IF THE FAMILY'S TOTAL SAVINGS EXCEED THESE LEVELS, PUBLIC ASSISTANCE IS NOT PAYABLE.
MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT A FAMILY OF FOUR WOULD, ON TOP OF A BASIC INCOME LEVEL OF $1 425, BE ENTITLED TO A RENT ALLOWANCE UP TO A MAXIMUM OF $953 A MONTH, AS WELL AS DISCRETIONARY GRANTS TOWARDS EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES FOR THE CHILDREN. ESSENTIAL TRAVELLING EXPENSES AND EXTRA DIETARY ALLOWANCES WHERE THESE WERE REQUIRED.
A FAMILY ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FOR MORE THAN 12 MONTHS WOULD BE ENTITLED TO AN ANNUAL LONG-TERM SUPPLEMENT OF $1 290, WHICH IS INTENDED TO HELP MEET THE COST OF HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AND DURABLE GOODS.
/MR CHAMBERS
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