Care fund injection set to be approved
Lawmakers look set to approve a HK$5 billion injection into the Community Care Fund, although lawmakers from several parties have indicated disapproval of the government-business partnership.
The Legislative Council's finance committee will vote today on the government's share of the HK$10 billion fund - supposed to be matched by the private sector - after ministers admitted last week that only HK$680 million had been collected from businesses so far, with another HK$1.12 billion pledged.
The Democratic Party, the Civic Party and the Liberal Party say they do not support the approval. But they will abstain, meaning that funding is still expected to pass with the backing of the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong and the Federation of Trade Unions.
Committee approval needs a simple majority of votes cast, unlike in Legco itself where a majority of members present must vote in favour.
The Democratic Party has suggested that HK$2 billion be approved, with the rest to follow in two installments.
'We have already passed our proposal to the chief secretary. If it is accepted, we will support the funding approval. Otherwise, we will abstain' chairman Albert Ho Chun-yan said.
The Civic Party has also demanded that the government scale down its funding commitment.
'It was supposed to be a matching fund. The government has only secured HK$1.8 billion from the private sector so far, so we should only approve an injection of HK$1.8 billion,' lawmaker Alan Leong Kah-kit said.
An official familiar with the government's position said any injection of less than HK$5 billion would hamper the fund's long-term planning.
'With the HK$5 billion, it will also be easier for the government to lure more people from the private sector to donate,' the official said.
The fund is intended to provide support for the needy in areas not covered by the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme.
Working together?
The Community Care Fund is a government-business partnership
But business support for the scheme has fallen short of its HK$5 billion target by about this much: $3.2b
