XN000022-1977-03-27 — Page 1

PRH 7

香港政府

GIS 新聞處

DAILY INFORMATION BULLETIN

SUNDAY, MARCH 27, 1977

APPLICATION FOR EXTENDED PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

SCHEME STARTS NEXT MONTH

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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL BEGIN ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FROM UNEMPLOYED ABLE-BODIED PERSONS BETWEEN 15 AND 55 NEXT MONTH,

MR. LAW CHI-KIN, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (SUNDAY) THAT THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME WAS DESIGNED TO BRING THE INCOME OF A SINGLE ELIGIBLE PERSON OR A FAMILY UP TO A LEVEL WHERE ESSENTIAL NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD AND CLOTHING COULD BE MET WITHOUT SUFFERING HARDSHIP.

REFERRING TO THE EXTENDED PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME, HOWEVER, MR. LAW SAID: +APPLICANTS, WHO HAVE RESIDED IN HONG KONG FOR TWO YEARS, MUST APPLY IN PERSON AT THEIR NEAREST SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNIT.

+THEY WILL THEN BE REFERRED TO THE LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WHO WILL REGISTER THEM FOR JOBS.

+ IF THE APPLICANTS FAIL TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT FOR ONE MONTH AFTER THE DATE OF APPLICATION, THEIR MONTHLY ENTITLEMENT WILL START FROM THE FIRST DAY OF THE FOLLOWING MONTH.+

FAMILY MEMBERS, WHO ARE OVER THE AGE OF 15 AND UNDER 55, THUS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AT PRESENT, ARE ASKED TO CONTACT THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNIT.

+THEY MAY BE ELIGIBLE TO BE INCLUDED FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AS PART OF THE HOUSEHOLD WHEN CALCULATING ENTITLEMENT AFTER APRIL 1,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+THE COST OF ACCOMMODATION IS COVERED SEPARATELY BY A RENT

THE ALLOWANCE WHERE THERE ARE SPECIAL EXPENSES, FOR EXAMPLE COST OF A MEDICALLY APPROVED DIET, DISCRETIONARY PAYMENTS MAY BE MADE.+

TURNING TO THE SCALE OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, MR. LAW SAID: +THE PRESENT RATE IS $180 A MONTH FOR A SINGLE PERSON WHEREAS FOR A FAMILY, $130 FOR EACH OF THE FIRST THREE MEMBERS, $105 FOR EACH OF THE NEXT THREE AND $80 FOR THE SEVENTH MEMBER AND SO ON. ON TOP OF THIS, A RENT ALLOWANCE IS ALSO PAID AND, WHERE APPROPRIATE, A SPECIAL ALLOWANCE TO MEET ESSENTIAL EXPENDITURE.

/+FOR

Issued by Government Information Services, Beaconsfield House, Hong Kong. Tel: 5-233191