ENG-1989 — Page 198

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SOCIAL WELFARE

In the area of services for offenders, qualified teachers have been employed to run academic classes in the department's correctional institutions. To provide continuity in trade training for residents of the correctional institutions, links with the Vocational Training Council have been strengthened. A growing number of discharged trainees go on to vocational courses managed by the Council and the Department of Technical Education and Industrial Training.

Continued attention was given to reviewing the provision of the Protection of Women and Juveniles Ordinance, with particular reference to the protection of the child's well- being. Proposals for amendments to the ordinance were formulated, and a number of concerned bodies have been consulted. Representatives from the government and volun- tary agencies came together in various forums such as the reconvened Working Group on Child Abuse. Its recommendations focused on measures to help overcome the problems of child neglect and abuse.

The Housing Department is entrusted with the fitting-out work for welfare premises in Public Housing Estates under a rolling programme. The number of services with standard layout plans covered by this programme will be increased to six, including day nurseries, children and youth centres, social centres, hostels for the elderly and half-way houses for discharged mental patients. Work continued on preparing layout plans and fitting-out requirements for homes for the aged with care-and-attention units in new public housing

estates.

___During the year, 10 new day nurseries, one family-services centre, two small group homes, one child custody service unit, three homes/hostels for the aged, one combined home, one care-and-attention home, two day-care, one multi-service and seven social centres for the elderly and 22 children centres, youth centres and combined children- and-youth centres were established.

Provision of these additional services and the increase in the social security caseload were reflected in increased recurrent expenditure.

Community Chest

The Community Chest, which organises and co-ordinates fund-raising activities for its member agencies, raised $71 million in 1988–9, compared with $56 million in 1987-8.

Social Security

Social security is a major social welfare programme aimed at meeting the needs of those vulnerable groups in the community requiring financial assistance. The Public Assistance and Special Needs Allowance Schemes are the key elements in the entirely non- contributory social security system. They are supplemented by three other schemes: Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Scheme, Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Scheme and Emergency Relief. The social security programme provides an effective 'safety net' for those who need assistance.

The Public Assistance Scheme, which is means-tested, provides cash assistance to those in need. It is designed to raise the income of needy individuals and families to a level where essential requirements are met. Persons who have resided in Hong Kong for not less than one year may be eligible if they can prove that their income and other resources are below the prescribed levels. An able-bodied unemployed person aged 15 to 59 who is available for work is, in addition, required to register with the Labour Department for job placement in order to qualify for assistance. The Director of Social Welfare is vested with a discretionary power to waive the one-year residence requirement in cases of genuine hardship.