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Chapter 10

Social Welfare

The government is committed to assisting those in need. The scope and extent of Hong Kong's welfare services have steadily evolved over the years, with total recurrent government expenditure on social welfare increasing by around 40 per cent in the past decade.

The Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) 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 2012-13, the SWD's total recurrent expenditure was $42.4 billion, of which $28.5 billion (67.2 per cent) was for financial assistance payments, $10.2 billion (24.1 per cent) for recurrent subventions to non-governmental organisations (NGOs), $1.1 billion (2.6 per cent) for other payments for welfare services, and the remaining $2.6 billion (6.1 per cent) for departmental expenditure.

Major Social Welfare Initiatives

Relief Measures

To help those in need, in July the SWD provided one additional month's standard rate payment for recipients of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) and one additional month's allowance for recipients of Old Age Living Allowance (OALA), Old Age Allowance (OAA) and Disability Allowance (DA).

Old Age Living Allowance

With effect from 1 April, the SWD implemented OALA under the Social Security Allowance (SSA) Scheme for Hong Kong elderly persons aged 65 or above who need financial support.

Guangdong Scheme

With effect from 1 October, the SWD's Guangdong Scheme provides OAA for eligible Hong Kong elderly persons who reside in Guangdong.

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