bodyType

customContents

entityId

printArticlePageQuery

filter

article

body

urlAlias

articleSectionsContent

articleSeoArticle

articleSourceHeaderArticle

contentSchemaRenderContent

contentSubHeadlineContent

contentHeadlineContent

mainImagePrintArticleArticle

authorBlockPrintArticleArticle

contentSponsorTagContent

articlePianoPaywallContent

scmpYoutubeContent

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

query printArticlePageQuery(
  $entityId: String!
  $customContents: [CustomContentInput]
  $bodyType: BodyFormatTypeEnum
) {
  article(filter: {entityId: $entityId}) {
    entityId
    body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
      json
    }
    urlAlias
    ...articleSectionsContent
    ...articleSeoArticle_3o8td4
    ...articleSourceHeaderArticle
    ...contentSchemaRenderContent
    ...contentSubHeadlineContent
    ...contentHeadlineContent
    ...mainImagePrintArticleArticle
    ...authorBlockPrintArticleArticle
    ...contentSponsorTagContent
    ...articlePianoPaywallContent
    ...scmpYoutubeContent
    ...hooksTrackPageViewArticle
    id
  }
}

fragment articlePianoPaywallContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksPaywallPromiseContent
}

fragment articleSectionsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      ...helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection
      ...entityLink
      name
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment articleSeoArticle_3o8td4 on Article {
  ...hooksArticleSeoArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersGetArticleTypeArticle
  entityId
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
  summary {
    text
  }
  subHeadline {
    text
  }
  body(customContents: $customContents, type: $bodyType) {
    text
  }
  keywords
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  topics {
    name
    entityId
    id
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  images {
    style(filter: {style: "768x768"}) {
      url
    }
  }
  readingTime
}

fragment articleSourceHeaderArticle on Article {
  urlAlias
  ...entityLink
}

fragment authorBlockPrintArticleArticle on Article {
  ...defaultArticleDateContent
  ...authorNamesArticle
}

fragment authorNameAuthor on Author {
  ...entityLink
  name
  entityUuid
}

fragment authorNamesArticle on Article {
  authorLocations
  authors {
    entityId
    location
    ...authorNameAuthor
    id
  }
}

fragment blockquoteQuoteContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment contentHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  socialHeadline
  ...contentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
}

fragment contentNewsletterWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
    id
  }
  sections {
    value {
      relatedNewsletters {
        ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
        id
      }
      id
    }
  }
  ... on Article {
    relatedNewsletters {
      ...helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment contentSchemaRenderContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...blockquoteQuoteContent
  ...imageContent
  ...inlineWidgetContent
  ...photoGalleryWidgetContent
  ...scmpYoutubeContent
}

fragment contentShareWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  shortUrl
  socialHeadline
  headline
}

fragment contentSponsorTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersUseContentSponsorContent
}

fragment contentSubHeadlineContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  subHeadline {
    json
  }
  summary {
    json
  }
  ...contentSchemaRenderContent
}

fragment defaultArticleDateContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...hooksArticleDateUtilsContent
}

fragment entityLink on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  __typename
  entityId
  entityUuid
  urlAlias
  urlRedirect {
    toUrl
    id
  }
  application {
    entityId
    id
  }
  ... on Section {
    fullSectionPath {
      entityId
      id
    }
    parentSection
  }
  ...helpersAppBarVariantBase
  ...helpersApplicationBase
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersAppBarVariantBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsLiveArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...helpersSectionContent
  ...helpersStyleSectionContent
}

fragment helpersApplicationBase on BaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias {
  __isBaseWithApplicationAndUrlAlias: __typename
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesPage
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusPage
}

fragment helpersCheckIfNewsSectionInFirstIndexSection on Section {
  name
}

fragment helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle on Article {
  entityId
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  disableOffPlatformContent
  sponsorType
  published
  ...helpersCheckIsPlusArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment helpersCheckIsLiveArticle on Article {
  flattenTypeIds
  liveArticle {
    status
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    paywallTypes {
      entityUuid
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPlusPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle on Article {
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersCheckIsPostiesPage on Page {
  urlAlias
}

fragment helpersCheckIsStyleArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  sections {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersGetArticleTypeArticle on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        entityId
        id
      }
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersMassageToNewsletterItemNewsletter on Newsletter {
  entityId
  name
  alternativeName
  description {
    text
  }
  summary {
    text
  }
  homepageDescription {
    text
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle on Article {
  authors {
    types
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle on Article {
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersStyleSectionContent on Section {
  fullSectionPath {
    entityId
    id
  }
}

fragment helpersUseContentSponsorContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  topics {
    entityId
    sponsor {
      ...sponsorTagSponsor
      name
      type
      id
    }
    id
  }
  ... on Article {
    sponsorType
  }
  ...helpersCheckIsMainTopicContent
}

fragment hooksArticleDateUtilsContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  createdDate
  publishedDate
  updatedDate
}

fragment hooksArticleSeoArticle on Article {
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsPostMagazineArticle
  ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  ...hooksContentHeadlineTagContent
  ...helpersCheckIsAmpEnabledArticle
  entityId
  headline
  socialHeadline
  types {
    value {
      entityId
      id
    }
  }
  authors {
    entityId
    id
  }
  images {
    generic_og: style(filter: {style: "og_image_scmp_generic"}) {
      url
    }
    styles(filter: {styles: ["og_image_posties_article", "og_postmag", "og_image_style", "og_image_scmp_analysis", "og_image_scmp_explainer", "og_image_scmp_editorial", "og_image_scmp_fact_check", "og_image_scmp_debate", "og_image_scmp_live", "og_image_scmp_obituary", "og_image_scmp_opinion", "og_image_scmp_review", "og_image_scmp_series", "og_image_scmp_generic"]}) {
      url
      style
    }
    type
  }
  urlAlias
}

fragment hooksContentHeadlineTagContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ... on Article {
    types {
      value {
        name
        entityId
        description {
          text
        }
        id
      }
    }
    ...helpersCheckIsStyleArticle
  }
  flag
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  ...hooksContentHelperContent
}

fragment hooksContentHelperContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...helpersSanitizeArticleTypeEntityIdsArticle
  ...helpersSanitizeAuthorTypesArticle
  ...helpersSanitizedAuthorEntityIdsArticle
  flag
}

fragment hooksPaywallPromiseContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  ...helpersCheckIsPostiesArticle
}

fragment hooksTrackPageViewArticle on Article {
  entityId
  publishedDate
  headline
  sections {
    value {
      name
      id
    }
  }
  urlAlias
  authors {
    name
    id
  }
  entityUuid
}

fragment imageContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  headline
  ...checkersCheckContentContainsStarlingImageContent
}

fragment inlineWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...contentNewsletterWidgetContent
}

fragment mainImagePrintArticleArticle on Article {
  images {
    title
    url
    isSlideshow
    size_652x446: style(filter: {style: "652x446"}) {
      url
    }
  }
}

fragment photoGalleryDialogContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  __typename
  ...contentShareWidgetContent
}

fragment photoGalleryWidgetContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  ...photoGalleryDialogContent
}

fragment scmpYoutubeContent on Content {
  __isContent: __typename
  entityId
  urlAlias
  publishedDate
}

fragment sponsorTagSponsor on Sponsor {
  name
  type
  images {
    url
  }
}


sections

types

disableOffPlatformContent

sponsorType

published

headline

socialHeadline

authors

images

publishedDate

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

keywords

topics

readingTime

authorLocations

entityUuid

Sarah Monks

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.
'Hong Kong has changed so much. But we really haven't had a very comprehensive review of the strategy or direction of our social welfare policy,' said  Chua Hoi-wai,  business director at the Hong Kong Council of Social Services. He cited social trends, such as a doubling of the number of single-parent families in the past decade.
He said there was a lack of integration in efforts to address many of today's welfare issues. One example was how the system responded to the problem of 'night drifters' - teenagers staying out on the streets all night.
'The government's way was only to fix the problem, just to find somebody to take care of them,' Mr Chua said. 'Our thinking would be that we should lay out all the issues then try to work out a more cohesive, coherent way of dealing with them.' This would mean 'joining up' day and night services for such teenagers and adopting a 'developmental' approach to help them 'find the meaning of life and get back into school'.
University of Hong Kong professor of social work Nelson Chow Wing-sun,  a veteran observer of social welfare development in Hong Kong, said that while the government had spent more on people's livelihoods since the handover, its approach had become more politicised.
'It has nothing to do with social welfare development planning. Rather, the purpose of all these short-term measures is to gain popularity,' said Professor Chow. 'There are certain problems or outcries; certain groups of people urge the government to do more in certain areas, so the government has agreed to spend more. I think people are fed up with these piecemeal, ad hoc things.'
Spending on social welfare has risen  123  per cent since the handover - from HK$17 billion in 1996-97 to HK$38 billion this year - second only to education spending.
One reason is the surge in the number of able-bodied, working-age people receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance,  up from about 112,000 a decade ago to some 209,000 now. This is largely due to the disappearance of hundreds of thousands of blue-collar jobs in Hong Kong since the 1980s, which has left many working poor with no option but welfare.
'The trouble is that we have 1 million workers with very little education and who have worked in one occupation, such as construction or restaurants, for 30 or so years. They're still only in their late 40s,' said Professor Chow.
'For this group of people, who have the capacity to work,  we should not just give them support for basic living but get them back to work.'
Professor Chow said there should be a separate category of CSSA offering the unemployed a more generous amount for a short period so they could dress better for,  and have enough money to travel to, job interviews.  That should be combined with more effective retraining, he said.
Unionist legislator Lee Cheuk-yan  said Hong Kong's social welfare system did not offer enough protection for the working poor. Nor was it geared to middle-class families going through a crisis because of job losses. He said the government's only answer to poverty was the CSSA.
'It doesn't fit the so-called white collar unemployed, who may have their own housing and a mortgage to pay. They don't qualify as CSSA recipients. So there is no safety net in the sense that, when there are accidents in life, like unemployment or sudden reduction of wages, there is nothing to cushion them.'
Mr Lee noted that the middle class had been hit hard twice in a decade, with the Asian financial crisis 10 years ago and the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome five years ago. Now Hong Kong was facing another 'white-collar recession' brought on by the global financial slump.
'We're in uncharted waters because, in the past, there was ample opportunity for the children of a poor family to have social mobility,' he said. 'Now we see a downward trend. Even the middle class is going down the ladder because of the latest financial crisis we're going through.'
Mr Lee estimated there were about 300,000 'lower-middle class' families, who were vulnerable to layoffs  and wage reduction if they were not in relatively secure jobs like teaching or the civil service.
Creating jobs with infrastructure projects during the downturn would have a limited ripple effect, he said. 'We need more jobs in the white-collar or service areas. How about investing more in child care and elderly care? It can create jobs and also tackle social needs.'
Mr Lee said social welfare spending should be seen as social investment rather than 'pouring out money' for the poor and needy. 'We should change our language,' he said. 'Social investment has a return. If people have more security and confidence in the future, it's also good for the economy. This [change] needs to start from government. They need to have a new way to look into social needs and social welfare.'
Professor Chow said he would support the introduction of a guideline setting out the government's social welfare aims, policy and priorities, rather than a plan that tries to pin down specifics.  Children should come first in social welfare, the family should be strengthened and the community used for delivery of services, he said.
Mr Wong believes the NGOs and government together are doing a good job on social welfare. 'Let's not belittle them. I think it's a matter of how we cope with the rapidly changing social and economic environment.'
The government had already reorganised, he said, to bring welfare and labour together in one bureau for better policy co-ordination. It was now aware of what was missing in its social welfare approach.
'That's why they've asked us to do the lump sum grant review and asked SWAC to do the welfare planning. It's really in the hope we could get all the inputs so that a clearer direction can be decided.' The first round of consultation for the SWAC review ended recently, receiving 26 written submissions.
Mr Wong said social welfare in Hong Kong should have a mechanism that was a timely reflection of changing community needs. It also needed more policy research by academics into problems and needs stemming from changing social patterns. 'The government should put more funding into this cross-border situation, with cross-border marriages and old people retiring and going back to [mainland] China.'
Mr Wong pinpointed contradictions in the current system, compounded by 'some mistrust' between the government and NGOs. 'The government is probably still exercising too much control,' he said. 'They're not allowing all the flexibility that has been promised, whereas the welfare sector is not doing enough thinking on what it should be doing under that system, for example by re-engineering [their services].'
As the government saw it, he said, for the past eight years, NGOs had been given money and it had been left up to them to decide how to spend it, as long as they delivered the required services. As the welfare sector saw it, needs were changing so quickly that they barely had the resources to deliver old services, let alone introduce new ones.
'If the lump sum system operates well and the planning system comes into place, then I think the missing links are going to be there,' said Mr Wong.
He noted that what the government was thinking and doing on social welfare was seldom articulated. By the same token, neither the media nor the public had been very interested in the technicalities of the system.
'The social welfare system in Hong Kong has evolved into a very complex system,' said Mr Wong. 'I've been the chairman of SWAC for six years. I've now spent almost a year on the lump sum grant. And, God, I'm still learning. I'm unearthing things every day.'



Easing the burden