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Social Welfare

programmes to help the government identify measures that can be considered for incorporation into its regular assistance and service programmes. Eleven programmes have been incorporated into the government's regular assistance programmes so far.

The fund will draw up more programmes to help the underprivileged and low-income families in collaboration with other task forces under the commission, taking into account the views of the public and stakeholders.

Child Development Fund

The Child Development Fund provides children from disadvantaged backgrounds with personal development opportunities. Through the fund's projects, participants draw up and implement their own development plans and learn to accumulate savings and intangible assets, such as a positive attitude, personal resilience and social networks, thus helping their long-term development. The projects are operated by either NGOs or schools. In 2016, there were 48 ongoing NGO-run projects and 30 school-based projects, of which 13 school-based projects were launched in the year, benefiting more than 700 new participants.

Advisory Bodies

Social Welfare Advisory Committee

The Social Welfare Advisory Committee reviews social welfare services from time to time and advises the government on all matters of social welfare policy. In 2016, the committee offered advice on social welfare initiatives announced in the Policy Address and on suggestions about welfare priority in 2017-18, made by the social welfare sector and other advisory bodies.

Elderly Commission

The Elderly Commission advises the government on policy and services for the elderly. It emphasises promoting active ageing and advises on ways to enhance long-term care services.

The commission is studying the feasibility of introducing a residential care service voucher scheme and formulating an Elderly Services Programme Plan. In the 2016-17 school year, about 130 elder academies in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions were operating under an Elder Academy Scheme conducted jointly by the commission and the government.

Women's Commission

The Women's Commission aims to enable women in Hong Kong to fully realise their due status, rights and opportunities in all aspects of life through the provision of an enabling environment, empowerment of women, and public education. It advises the government on women-related policies to ensure their perspectives are taken into account in formulating government policies.

The commission and the government provide a pilot scheme to encourage social welfare NGOs to refer to the Gender Mainstreaming Checklist adopted by the government and apply gender mainstreaming when formulating policies and programmes. At the end of 2016, a Gender Focal Point network was established among listed companies to raise awareness of gender-related issues in the business community, following the formation of a similar network among government bureaus and departments, District Councils and social welfare NGOs.

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