ENG-1979 — Page 162

SOCIAL WELFARE

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11 district offices in Hong Kong, Kowloon and the New Territories. The district offices, with their sub-district offices, are the main point of contact with people and voluntary welfare organisations and they provide a complete range of social welfare services.

The Social Welfare Department operates through four main branches. The Development and Social Security Branches are responsible for central planning and the development of new policies in social welfare and social security. The Subventions Branch deals with the central administration of subventions, and the evaluation and servicing of various advisory committees. The Operations Branch supervises activities in the four regions with their 11 districts.

The continued shortage of trained social workers and specialised staff will be aggravated by the demands of the government's new and expanded social security and welfare pro- grammes. As a result, steps are being taken to make the social work profession more at- tractive financially. The department is looking into ways to make fuller use of trained staff and it wants to see the output of trained social workers increased, both at the graduate and non-graduate level. A review of the staffing structure within the department has resulted in major changes that will provide separate social work and social security streams. This will enable trained social workers to concentrate on work that requires professional skills. Revised pay scales were brought into effect in April, 1979, and the restructuring was pro- ceeding at the end of 1979.

Voluntary agencies play a key role in the provision and development of social welfare services in Hong Kong. Most agencies are affiliated to the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and many are assisted by annual subventions from the government. These amounted to $117 million for the 1979-80 financial year. Subventions are given on a discretionary lump sum basis, but this system is being reviewed.

The Community Chest, to which some 75 welfare bodies belong, represents an endeavour by these organisations to co-ordinate their local fund-raising activities. The Community Chest raised $17.7 million in its 11th annual fund-raising campaign in 1978-9, compared with $13.8 million in 1977-8.

Social Security

Social security is provided through the Public Assistance Scheme, the Special Needs Allowance Scheme, the Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Scheme, the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Scheme, and Emergency Relief. These schemes are administered largely by the Social-Welfare Department.

Public assistance, which is means-tested and non-contributory, is designed to help needy individuals and families by bringing their income up to a prescribed level. To be eligible for public assistance, applicants who are under 15 or more than 59 years must have lived in Hong Kong for at least one year. Able-bodied unemployed applicants, aged between 15 and 59, must have two years' residence in Hong Kong and also must be registered with the Local Employment Service of the Labour Department for employment. Young people aged between 15 and 17 are eligible as family members.

The scales of assistance are reviewed regularly and were adjusted on September 1, 1979. The existing monthly basic scale rate of assistance is $230 for a single person; $165 for each of the first three eligible members of a family; $140 for each of the succeeding three; and $105 for each eligible member thereafter. Old age supplement and long-term supplement benefits are payable on top of the basic scale rates. An old age supplement of $115 a month is given to public assistance recipients aged 60 and above, provided that they are not already receiving a special needs allowance. An annual long-term supplement of $575 for a family and $290 for a single person is given to public assistance recipients who have relied on the