War on want to benefit children and elderly
New funding will more than make up for budget cuts, says chief executive
A programme targeting children from poor or troubled families will be launched as one of Tung Chee-hwa's initiatives to fight poverty.
The chief executive also used the policy address to unveil plans to increase financial help for the disabled and provide more flexible services for the elderly. He pledged the spending would more than make up for the 2.1 per cent cut in the welfare budget in the coming financial year.
Representatives of the welfare sector noted Mr Tung failed to set a poverty line or define the basic needs of Hong Kong people.
The Head Start Programme on Child Development for children under the age of five will be introduced in Tin Shui Wai, Tuen Mun, Shamshuipo and Tseung Kwan O, then expanded to all districts.
Medical staff in five maternal and child-health centres, and staff in kindergartens and nurseries in the districts will be trained to identify children who are abused, have health problems or do not receive proper care at home.
About $5 million will be allocated to provide an additional 400 free after-school care places in youth centres for benefit recipients aged six to 15. Another $75 million will be paid for after-school activities.
An anti-poverty commission, to be chaired by Financial Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen, will be set up. The government will also devote an annual $60 million to increase the allowance for the 50,000 seriously disabled welfare recipients by $100 a month.
A scheme that enables elderly people living in Guangdong to continue receiving benefits will be relaxed to include Fujian . The relaxation will also allow those who have received welfare benefits for more than one year to join the scheme. The current requirement is no less than three years.
Mr Tung also reiterated earlier plans to set up a $200 million matching fund to encourage the welfare sector and business to provide services for the disadvantaged.
Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung, legislator representing the welfare sector, said: 'The so-called anti-poverty policies do not have much substance. Giving a disabled welfare recipient $100 more a month is very symbolic. It tells us that we should be happy because at least something is better than nothing.'
Dr Cheung criticised the document for failing to define basic needs and review the welfare benefits scheme.
His view was supported by Cheung Kwok-che, chairman of the Social Workers' General Union, who said the government must set a poverty line.
But Christine Fang Meng-sang, chief executive of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, called the addresss a big step forward.
'The government has indicated its willingness to face the problem of poverty by placing it on the policy agenda. The main issue now is whether the anti-poverty commission will set out their tasks and deliver,' she said.
Key welfare pledges
Reduce intergenerational poverty with new programme to target poor children
Extra $100 a month to fully disabled welfare recipients
$200 million partnership fund for the disadvantaged
A new commission to alleviate poverty
More elderly to get welfare payments on the mainland
Work on over 20 priority municipal projects to create up to 4,000 construction jobs
Extend about 10,000 temporary public-sector jobs
New work trial scheme to help the unemployed
Study on maximum working hours and minimum wage
