ENG-1993 — Page 212

SOCIAL WELFARE

needs of particular groups who formerly received assistance under two separate schemes, the Public Assistance Scheme and the Special Needs Allowance Scheme. The rates of benefits were increased between four per cent and 37 per cent for different groups of beneficiaries.

The Protection of Women and Juveniles (Amendment) Ordinance 1993 was enacted in April. Among other things, it aims at widening the circumstances in which a child may be considered to be in need of care or protection, and providing the Director of Social Welfare with more flexible powers of intervention and investigation. The amendment ordinance was implemented on November 1 under the name of the Protection of Children and Juveniles Ordinance (Cap. 213).

Co-ordinated efforts from multi-disciplinary professionals and various government departments are needed to tackle the problems of young people at risk, child abuse, teenage suicide, drug abuse, triad influence and premature sexual involvement, which have attracted considerable public concern. The Coordinating Committee for the Welfare of Children and Youth at Risk was appointed in April under the chairmanship of the Secretary for Health and Welfare to co-ordinate services and advise on policy directions. Under this committee, two working groups - the Working Group on Child Abuse and the Working Group on Services for Youth at Risk - were established under the chairmanship of the Director of Social Welfare in mid-1993 to examine the wide range of issues related to the problems and welfare of children and young people.

Taking into account the changed needs of young people, the Secretary for Health and Welfare appointed a working party in 1992 to review the services provided by children and youth centres. The working party produced a draft report in June 1993, proposing, inter alia, that an integrated model should be adopted in providing services for young people. Public views were invited and a final report was submitted for policy consideration in late 1993.

Community Chest

The Community Chest, which organises and co-ordinates fund-raising activities for its member agencies, raised $145 million in 1992-93, compared with $132 million in 1991-92. More details about the Community Chest are given at Appendix 32.

Social Security

Social security is a major social welfare programme aimed at meeting the needs of vulnerable groups in the community requiring financial or material assistance. The Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme and Social Security Allowance Scheme are the key elements in the non-contributory social security system. They are supplemented by three other schemes: the Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Scheme, the Traffic Accident Victims Assistance Scheme and Emergency Relief.

Comprehensive social security assistance, 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 their income and other resources are below the prescribed levels. But an able-bodied unemployed person aged between 15 and 59, who is available for work, is required to register with the Labour Department for job placement to qualify for assistance.

175