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Chapter 10

Social Welfare

The Government is committed to assisting the needy through the provision of preventive, supportive and remedial welfare services. As well as providing a social security safety net, it also helps the needy 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 Elderly Commission, the Rehabilitation Advisory Committee, and the Women's Commission advise the Government on welfare policies.

In 2011, the total recurrent expenditure of the SWD was $39.3 billion, of which $26.8 billion (68.2 per cent) was for financial assistance payments, $9.2 billion (23.4 per cent) for recurrent subventions to non-governmental organisations (NGOs), $0.9 billion (2.3 per cent) for hire of services, and the remaining $2.4 billion (6.1 per cent) for departmental expenditure.

Major Achievements

Strengthened Support for Families in Need

In 2011, the Government implemented a series of measures to strengthen its services and support for families in need, including victims of domestic violence.

The SWD launched a three-year pilot programme, called Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project (NSCCP) in October 2008 with a view to providing more flexible forms of day care services for children aged under six to meet the needs of parents at the neighbourhood level. A total of 11 projects, one in each SWD administrative district, were launched. Subsidy is also available for families with social needs and financial difficulties. In view of the positive feedback from service users, the SWD has regularised the NSCCP and extended its service coverage to all 18 administrative districts since October 2011.