Commission wants to reduce low-income workers? transport costs
Updated at 6.57pm: The government?s Commission on Poverty (CoP) was continuing to examine ways to make work more attractive to low-income people, Financial Secretary Henry Tang Ying-yen said on Monday.
Chairing the eighth meeting of the commission, Mr Tang said the government was anxious to address community concern about high transport costs for the working poor living in remote areas.
?We are keenly aware that high transport costs can be a disincentive to work, especially for low-income commuters living in remote areas,?? he said. Mr Tang said commission members had unanimously agreed to make work more attractive than reliance on welfare.
?While aware of calls for immediate action to resolve the issue, we are wary that introducing a new category of long-term subsidy is a major public policy issue,?? he added. ?Members agreed to consider further how to provide assistance to the working poor, including the possibility of achieving the purpose through building on existing mechanisms.
?I believe this is an important first step for further work,?? added the Financial Secretary.
He said CoP members had urged the government to examine incentives for the working poor ? preferably through existing employment assistance and other support services.
The commission had agreed to consider the existing income support available to the working poor at its next meeting.
Members considered the findings and 18 recommendations in the Report of the District Study on Employment Assistance which examined the delivery of employment services at district level, such as in Yuen Long, Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong.
The commission noted that a substantial part of public expenditure (almost $50 billion) had already been spent on employment assistance.
?There is strong consensus among commission members that an effective mechanism is key to ensuring that our employment assistance can really benefit the unemployed, in particular the ?difficult-to-employ? who need more targeted assistance to help them find work and become self-reliant,?? he explained.
?Relevant government departments will consider the recommendations and I look forward to a report on suggested improvements in six months? time,? added Mr Tang.
The Financial Secretary has re-affirmed the government?s commitment to alleviating poverty and had committed $113 billion (more than 55 per cent of total) on relevant social policies in the this year?s Budget.
Hong Kong does not have a comprehensive welfare state, unlike many western countries, including Australia, Canada, France and Britain.
There is some government assistance available to those unable to support themselves, but it is fairly modest compared to welfare payments overseas.
There is generally more pressure on Hong Kong workers to be self-reliant and to support themselves.
The commission has said it would encourage development of 'social enterprises' to create jobs for welfare recipients and encourage them to join the workforce.