ENG-1985 — Page 179

SOCIAL WELFARE

Social Security

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Social security benefits are all non-contributory, and are provided by the Social Welfare Department, which administers the Public Assistance Scheme, the Special Needs Allow- ance Scheme, the Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Scheme and the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Scheme. It also provides emergency relief for victims of natural or other disasters.

The Public Assistance Scheme, which is means tested, aims at bringing the income of needy individuals and families up to a prescribed level. To be eligible, a person must satisfy the criterion of one year's residence in Hong Kong, though the Director of Social Welfare is empowered to waive this requirement in cases of genuine hardship. An able-bodied unemployed adult aged 15 to 59 years is eligible only if he is actively seeking employment and has registered with the Local Employment Service of the Labour Department. At the end of 1985, the number of public assistance cases was 62 828, compared with 59 320 in 1984. Expenditure on public assistance in 1984-5 amounted to $583.4 million, an increase of 19.9 per cent over the previous year.

The rates of assistance are reviewed and increased periodically to keep them in line with the cost of living. The current monthly basic rate is $510 for a single person, $370 for each of the first three eligible members of a family, $315 for each of the succeeding three members, and $245 for each subsequent eligible member. In addition to the basic rate, an old age supplement, a disability supplement and a long-term supplement can be given. An old age supplement of $255 per month is given to those aged 60 and above who are not receiving a special needs allowance or disability supplement. A disability supplement of $255 per month is payable to those who are partially disabled with at least 50 per cent loss of working capacity, and are not in receipt of an old age supplement or special needs allowance. An annual long-term supplement of $1,290 for a family, or $645 for a single person, is given to those who have received public assistance for a continuous period of 12 months, to enable them to meet the cost of replacing household wares and durable goods. Separate allowances are also payable to cover the costs of accommodation, education, dietary needs or other special requirements.

To encourage public assistance recipients to take up part-time employment, an individ- ual's earnings up to $255 a month are disregarded in calculating the assistance given. This arrangement does not apply, however, to able-bodied adults who are expected to seek employment actively as a condition of receiving public assistance.

The non-means-tested Special Needs Allowance provides flat-rate old age and disability allowances. Any person aged 70 and above is eligible to apply for an old age allowance provided he has resided continuously in Hong Kong for at least five years before the date of application. Any person, regardless of age, who is severely disabled and has resided continuously in Hong Kong for at least one year before claiming the allowance, is eligible for a disability allowance. The current monthly rates of old age and disability allowances are $255 and $510 respectively. The number of people receiving these two allowances at the end of the year was 272 595, compared with 255 470 at the end of 1984. Expenditure on special needs allowances in 1984-5 was $823.3 million, an increase of 16.1 per cent.

The Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Scheme provides cash assistance for people injured and for dependants of those killed in crimes of violence, or through the action of law enforcement officers in the execution of their duties. The scheme, which is non-means tested, is administered by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and the Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Board. Total payments in 1985 amounted to $4.7 million, compared with $4 million in the previous year.