TNAG-0876-FCO40-1086-Development-of-social-welfare-policy-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 4

person and that it should be added to the basic scale of allowances for anyone with a 50% or more loss of earning capacity as defined in the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance, or who is suffering from a mental or physical condition medically certified as broadly equivalent. It will not, however, be paid to those who are already receiving an Old Age Supplement or a Special Needs Allowance since these payments are intended to cover similar needs. The advantages of these modified proposals over the Chronic Sickness Allowance suggested in the Green Paper are: firstly, help would be extended to those who most require it, that is to Public Assistance recipients and to the profoundly deaf, thus reflecting the public's preference; secondly, it would avoid the complexities of medical certification referred to in paragraph 7 above; and thirdly, there would be no need for a qualifying period of 18 months since anyone who meets the proposed criteria would qualify for help immediately.

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As regards the suggestion that the moderately mentally retarded should be included in the Special Needs Allowance scheme, the Social Welfare Advisory Committee concluded that a non-menas- tested allowance for this group was not justified. The moderately mentally retarded can respond to training and look after themselves, and improved training facilities for them are being implemented under the Rehabilitation Programme Plan. They already qualify for an allowance under the existing rules if they require substantial help or constant attendance from others to cope with daily life. Furthermore, the proposed introduction of a disability supplement under the Public Assistance scheme may benefit some of the moderately mentally retarded who qualify for Public Assistance.

(iii) Green Paper Proposals already implemented

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The following proposals in the Green Paper on Social Security Development have already been implemented in 1978/79:

(a)

(b)

a Social Security Appeal Board comprising a chairman and two members, all of whom are unofficials, was established in May 1978 to consider appeals against any decision by the Director of Social Welfare under the Public Assistance and the Special Needs Allowance Schemes;

a Long Term Supplement (of $500 for a family and $250 for a single person) is payable after every 12 months on public assistance for meeting household replacements or similar expenditure;

CONFIDENTIAL ##