Reforms and cost control measures have finally paid off for the Hong Kong Society for the Aged
SINCE GOVERNMENT funding for non-governmental organisations was cut in 2003, NGOs have been experiencing difficulties in maintaining high standards of service on lower budgets and with fewer staff.
In response to these challenges, the Hong Kong Society for the Aged (Sage) implemented several management reforms, and the organisation is now benefiting from the results of these changes with the support of its staff.
With 900 staff at 23 elderly homes and service centres for the aged, Sage is facing the same problem of a lack of resources as other local NGOs.
The organisation, however, insisted on a 'no pay cut and no layoffs' policy, its executive director Tik Chi-yuen said. Instead, it has undertaken other cost control measures.
'By regionalising all of our services units into five different regions, we reduced the number of management staff and helped lessen operation costs. Before that, each unit needed to have one branch chief. But now we only need five regional officers in total with a number of support staff,' Mr Tik said.
