CHAPTER 10
ADMINISTRATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY
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10.1
The Government is not committed to any particular form of organization for social security: what really matters is whether the service is being provided in the most effective and economical way.
10.2
If social planning is to be effective, it must be realistic. To be realistic, it must accept practical limitations and must recognise that the fewer the administrative changes, the quicker can progress be made. Policy proposals must be matched to administrative capacity and the temptation to try to do too much too fast must be resisted. Much of the value of a new scheme would be lost if it were inefficiently launched. It is better to build on the basis of existing administration so far as is possible. This enables progress to be made more quickly, probably more cheaply and almost certainly on a basis more acceptable to the staff of the Departments concerned. Before radical alterations are made in the way an organisation operates, the possibility of achieving similar results by developing the existing structure should be carefully examined.
10.3
Because of the dangers of attempting to do too much too fast, the Government is proposing a phased programme of social security development (see Chapter 12). It is not attempting to implement all the proposals straightaway: it is aiming to do them as fast as seems reasonable.
Organization of social security within Social Welfare Department
10.4
Regional management. At present the Department operates through a headquarters and a network of local offices and centres throughout Hong Kong. In the course of a review of the Department's functions, which is being carried out, the possibility of introducing regional management will be examined. If adopted, however, this would not lead to any fundamental change in the present structure of social security administration though it might help to improve the general quality of service.
10.5
Centrally managed schemes. The accident compensation schemes are administered centrally. Since there is clearly advantage in having a separate unit to deal with the specialized assessment work involved. No changes to the present arrangements, which work satisfactorily are proposed.
10.6
Locally managed schemes. Both the public assistance scheme and the welfare allowance scheme are locally operated, but centrally controlled. There is therefore no significant inconsistency in the amount of allowance paid as between one part of Hong Kong and another, though differences arise because discretion is exercised differently by field units. Although the schemes are centrally controlled, so far as possible applications for help are dealt with locally. The social security field units which deal with applications under both schemes, carry out the basic investigation, assess- ment and authorization work. When payment of an allowance has been authorized, it is paid by a central payments unit which arranges for an order book (a voucher from which can be cashed each month, usually at a post office) to be issued or for a monthly payment to be made into a bank savings
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