MORE cash for public assistance has been ruled out by the Director of Social Welfare - despite calls for higher allowances.
Ian Strachan also rejected claims that Hong Kong's 20,000 children on public assistance were suffering because payment levels were too low.
His comments drew an angry reaction from social workers who said his claims were ''outrageous''.
His comments came on the heels of a pledge on Saturday by Secretary for Health and Welfare Elizabeth Wong Chien Chi-lien to consider carefully a request by 28 social welfare groups for more assistance for children.
Mr Strachan said his main priorities next year would be to expand direct services, such as employing more social workers for families, children and centres for the elderly. That would reach more people than increasing allowances, he said.
Public assistance levels had been increased twice this year and social security already took the biggest chunk - $5 billion - of the social welfare budget, compared to the $3 billion spent on direct services, he said.
