TNAG-0876-FCO40-1086-Development-of-social-welfare-policy-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 212

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1

CONFIDENTIAL

Special Needs Allowance

3.5

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The Special Needs Allowance scheme (previously known as the Welfare Allowance scheme) is based on need established by

reference to the circumstances of the individual and not by

reference to low income. At present, it caters for two specific

categories, the severely disabled and the elderly. The community

accepts that these two categories of people are "vulnerable groups"

with needs which other members of the community do not have. A

flat rate non-means-tested allowance is therefore an appropriate way

of providing help and thus encouraging families to continue to look

after their disabled or elderly members. This is entirely consistent with the Government's policy of care in the community. It is not

proposed to change the basis of this scheme.

3.6

The Green Paper suggested the introduction of a further

allowance under this scheme : that a non-means-tested chronic

sickness allowance of half the basic public assistance rate for a

single person should be paid on a monthly basis to anyone who has been incapable of work for the previous 18 months and is medically

certified as still being unable to work. This allowance would not

be paid to anyone receiving a Disability or an Old Age Allowance.

3.7

Having regard to the stage of Hong Kong's social develop- ment and range of improvements still possible in many fields, the Social Welfare Advisory Committee has expressed a preference for a

means-tested allowance, and has noted that many of the intended

beneficiaries of this allowance would already be covered by the Special Needs Allowance scheme. It has also expressed concern over the administrative complexities of defining and certifying chronic sickness, particularly for people over 60 where it may be difficult

to establish whether someone is capable of working. In practice a

CONFIDENTIAL

機密