BACKGROUND NOTE
HONG KONG: SOCIAL SECURITY
a
1. The Hong Kong Public Assistance Scheme was established in 1971 as a means-tested, non-contributory scheme giving cash assistance to the needy. In addition, to Public Assistance, Disability and Infirmity Allowance was introduced in 1973. This provided a non-contributory, non-means-tested allowance for the severely disabled and for over-75s who were not in residential
care. Initially, Public Assistance was not granted to those aged between 15 and 55 who were able to work but in April 1977 it was extended to the able-bodied unemployed.
2.
Further improvements in the scheme, foreshadowed in a Green Paper on Social Security Development published last November, were introduced on 1 April this year. These included the renaming of the Disability and Infirmity Allowance as Welfare Allowance and its extension to those in institutions; the establishment of an independent board to hear appeals against official decisions on social security applications; a disregarded income provision in working out the amount of public assistance; and the introduction of long-term and old-age supplements.
3. With the introduction of the long-term supplement, more help will be available to those who have to rely on public assistance for over one year. The supplement is intended to be sufficient
to enable those receiving assistance to buy various household items which require occasional replacement, and for which normal Public Assistance funds are insufficient. At present the supplement consists of a yearly lump sum payment of 500 dollars per family or 250 dollars for a single person.
4. The old-age supplement will provide a means-tested allowance of HK$100 per month for those aged 60 and over who are not yet
eligible for the old-age allowance under the Welfare Allowance
Scheme.
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