ENG-1994 — Page 232

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SOCIAL WELFARE

THE Hong Kong community cares deeply about its state of welfare. Although the territory is not a welfare state, its residents expect the government to help the disadvantaged maintain an acceptable standard of living. To achieve this objective, spending on social welfare in 1994-95 was increased by 29 per cent to $10,282 million. This followed a government pledge to increase recurrent spending on this area by 26 per cent, in real terms, between 1993 and 1997.

During 1994, the social security scheme and services for the elderly and people with a disability came under the spotlight.

At the end of the year, a detailed examination of existing social security arrangements was underway, with a view to ensuring benefits meet the needs of the disadvantaged. New benefits under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme were announced for single-parent families and children in October.

While the government exceeded its targets in various social welfare areas, there were some that were behind schedule, including services for the elderly and people with a disability. This was due mainly to difficulties in finding sufficient premises. Determined to overcome the problem, the government stepped up its search for accommodation, looking for premises outside public housing estates and planning some purpose-built projects.

In the wake of the report of the Working Group on Care for the Elderly, issued in August, the government announced it will set up a $200 million Elderly Services Development Fund to help non-governmental organisations establish self-financing projects for the elderly. The working group confirmed that the existing policies on care in the community, continuity of care and integration of services should be further pursued and developed. It also recommended that long-term residential care should be provided when family care and community care can no longer cope with the needs of frail elderly persons.

Nearly $6 billion will be spent in 1994-95 on programmes to help people with a disability. To protect their rights, draft legislation will be introduced in early 1995 to prohibit discrimination against this group and to bring them within the ambit of the new Equal Opportunities Commission,

The responsibility for carrying out government policies on social welfare rests with the Director of Social Welfare. It is 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).

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