ENG-1993 — Page 211

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SOCIAL WELFARE

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HONG KONG, as a society, cares deeply about the welfare of its citizens. To achieve targets for the protection of the disadvantaged, spending on social welfare in 1993–94 was increased by 25 per cent to $7,963 million. This followed a government pledge to increase recurrent spending on social welfare by 26 per cent in real terms by 1997. To secure funding for major improvements during that period, a capital injection of $2.3 billion was made into the Lotteries Fund.

The Director of Social Welfare is responsible for carrying out government policies on - social security and social welfare, based on the objectives set out in three White Papers -

Integrating the Disabled into the Community: A United Effort (1977), Primary Education and Pre-primary Services (1981), and Social Welfare into the 1990s and Beyond (1991).

The government is advised on social welfare policy by two committees the Social Welfare Advisory Committee, covering the whole area of social welfare, and the Rehabilitation Development Co-ordinating Committee, on matters of rehabilitation. Members of these committees are appointed by the Governor, with non-officials as chairmen.

In the provision of welfare services, the Social Welfare Department maintains a close working partnership with non-governmental organisations, most of which are affiliated to the Hong Kong Council of Social Service. A list of the council's member agencies is shown in Appendix 32.

During the year under review, five new nurseries, 15 small group homes, 240 foster care places, nine home help teams, 16 family aides and 60 places of integrated programme in child care centres were established. Two combined children and youth centres were also established through reprovisioning of existing centres. For the elderly, a further 1 061 meal and care-and-attention places, 11 social centres, three day care centres, two multi-service centres and a holiday centre were set up. For the disabled, three new sheltered workshops, five day activity centres, seven hostels, two care and attention homes for severely disabled persons and 17 places in supported housing were established. A total of two outreaching service teams for the elderly at risk and four outreaching social work teams were set up. Eight extra family life education workers and 18 school social workers were made available.

A thorough overhaul of the social security system was undertaken and a Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme was introduced on July 1 to improve means-tested benefits. The package provides, as a consolidated sum, income support for the special