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Social Welfare

Rehabilitation Advisory Committee

The Rehabilitation Advisory Committee (RAC) serves as the principal advisory body to the Government on matters pertaining to the well-being of persons with disabilities and the development and implementation of rehabilitation policies and services in Hong Kong. RAC sub-committees look into specific areas of concern, such as access, employment and public education.

The RAC and its sub-committees are chaired by non-officials, and all their members are appointed in their personal capacities by the Chief Executive. To ensure that the interests of persons with disabilities are represented, the membership of the RAC includes persons with different disabilities, parents of persons with disabilities, representatives of self-help organisations for persons with disabilities and NGOs providing rehabilitation services, as well as academics, community and business leaders, professionals and other persons who have an interest in the well-being of persons with disabilities. Representatives of relevant government bureaux and departments also serve as ex-officio members to provide the necessary support to the RAC and follow up on issues it raises.

Through its sub-committee on public education, the RAC co-ordinates the implementation of various public education programmes on rehabilitation. In 2012, 26 public education programmes were organised by the Government and NGOs to promote the spirit of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and cross-sectoral collaboration in building an equal and inclusive society. Territory-wide publicity activities were also launched to support World Mental Health Day and the International Day of Disabled Persons.

The RAC collaborates with different sectors, including the District Councils and the business and welfare sectors, to promote the working capabilities of persons with disabilities and the employment support services provided by Government departments and rehabilitation organisations for persons with disabilities. The RAC also assists the Government in promoting and monitoring the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Hong Kong.

Community Care Fund

The Community Care Fund (CCF) assists people facing economic difficulties, especially those who fall outside the social safety net or who are within the safety net but have special circumstances that are not covered. Since its establishment in 2011, the CCF has benefited over 100,000 persons through its 18 assistance programmes. It also implemented a programme to provide a one-off allowance of $6,000 to new arrivals from low-income families. In addition, the CCF introduces measures on a pilot basis to help the Government identify those suitable for incorporation into the Government's regular assistance and service programmes. One of these was a subsidy for needy patients of the Hospital Authority for the use of Samaritan Fund subsidised drugs which was incorporated into the regular assistance programme in September 2012.

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