Is Hong Kong finally going to fix chronic problems in how it plans and funds social welfare, a system often criticised as 'ad hoc', 'short term' and hostage to 'whoever shouts loudest'? Wilfred Wong Ying-wai believes so. He is confident that another page will be turned for a welfare system under increasing stress from rapid economic and social change.
Mr Wong, a senior civil-servant-turned-businessman, recently stood down after six years as chairman of the government's 22-member Social Welfare Advisory Committee (SWAC). It was asked last year to produce a blueprint for Hong Kong's future social welfare system, along with 'strategic principles' to guide future planning, a process expected to take another year.
Separately, Mr Wong will soon complete an independent review for the government of its problematic 'lump sum grant' system, introduced in 2000 as a mechanism for dispensing funds to some 160 non-governmental organisations providing welfare services. He said the committee he chaired would recommend many changes.
A key issue is how to reconcile the fact that many NGOs need to plan for the longer term in light of changing welfare demands while the government only commits funds year by year, with amounts varying according to the state of the public coffers.
It wasn't always like this. The welfare system used to be based on rolling five-year plans that implemented policy objectives set out in white papers after comprehensive reviews. That approach was scrapped after 1999 because it was considered rigid and bureaucratic. Now, the government consults the welfare sector 'from time to time' on service priorities and broad strategies.
Few lament the passing of the five-year-plan era, with its micromanagement by government and constant tugs of war with NGOs over money. But many in the sector think welfare planning has suffered since the last white paper was issued, 17 years ago. They are concerned that the system is unable to respond quickly enough to emerging needs.