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Chapter 10

Social Welfare

The Government helps the needy to deal with their difficulties through the provision of preventive, supportive and remedial welfare services. Equally important, it provides them with a social security safety net to help them progress 'from welfare to self-reliance'.

The Labour and Welfare Bureau is responsible for formulating social welfare policies and overseeing their implementation by the Social Welfare Department (SWD). The Social Welfare Advisory Committee, the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee, the Elderly Commission and the Women's Commission advise the Government on welfare policy.

In 2008, the total recurrent expenditure of the SWD was $37.6 billion, of which $26.9 billion (71.6 per cent) was for financial assistance payments, $7.8 billion (20.7 per cent) for recurrent subventions to non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and the remaining $2.9 billion (7.7 per cent) for departmental expenditure, including $0.6 billion for hire of services.

Major Achievements

Strengthened Support for Families in Need

In 2008, the SWD secured additional resources and implemented measures to strengthen its services and support for victims of domestic violence. These included reinforcing the manpower provision for the Family and Child Protective Services. Units, stepping up public education and training for frontline professionals and enhancing district liaison work.

Support services rendered by the four Refuge Centres for Women were also enhanced and the number of places for people seeking residence in these centres was increased to 195. Since May, the Multi-purpose Crisis Intervention and Support Centre (CEASE Crisis Centre) has provided short-term accommodation services for victims of sexual violence and individuals or families facing domestic violence or in crisis and temporarily not ready to return home.