Parents of children with special needs say HK$200,000 entrance threshold for new trust is too high and out of reach for the average Hongkonger
- Government says new trust is aimed at middle-class families as lawmaker points to HK$28,000 trust entry fee in Singapore
Parents and legislators have criticised the government for setting a HK$200,000 entrance threshold for a public trust for Hongkongers with special needs, and said the amount will sideline low-income families.
But the city’s welfare chief said on Monday the figure was necessary to cover disbursements in the first year, and added that there were other government payments in place to help the needy.
The Special Needs Trust was first announced in the policy address in 2017, with the director of social welfare as the trustee to provide affordable trust services for managing the assets of deceased parents.
The move came after years of campaigning from advocates concerned that the care for children with special needs would end after parents died.
Officials revealed last week that, based on current cost and expenses levels, a minimum payment of about HK$200,000 was needed to open an account, and an annual fee of HK$21,000 would be charged after the account was activated to cover the expenses associated with managing the fund.
