***************************************
The Commission on Poverty (the Commission), chaired by the Financial Secretary, Mr Henry Tang, held its second meeting this afternoon (April 11). During the meeting, members of the Commission followed up on the Commission's visit to Tin Shui Wai last month. They also discussed the compilation of poverty indicators and the work schedule of the Commission, including how to reduce inter-generational poverty.
In the Commission's first meeting on February 18, members agreed to adopt a community-based approach in studying and identifying the needs of the poor in different districts so as to develop specific measures for addressing special challenges faced by the relevant communities.
Mr Tang and members of the Commission visited Tin Shui Wai on March 7 and met participants in a community project which aimed at helping the unemployed and low-income people. The visiting delegation also joined a forum to exchange views on the special needs and challenges faced by residents in the community.
Members of the Commission discussed the challenges faced by the residents of Tin Shui Wai such as unemployment, the special needs of children and the youth in the district, and the responses to these challenges and the future work plan of the poverty alleviation task force in Yuen Long District. Members of the Commission considered that the visit was meaningful, saying that first-hand knowledge of the district's situation is useful to the setting of priority in their poverty alleviation work. Members also agreed, after discussion, to adopt the following basic principles in carrying out work to alleviate poverty under the community-based approach:
* Pay attention to the effectiveness and sustainability of the proposed measures
* Strike a suitable balance between addressing unique challenges faced by individual districts and maintaining the integrity of the territory-wide policies;
* the proposed measures must be feasible and practicable; and wherever possible, the existing implementation structure should be used and special district problems should be addressed through improving inter-departmental cooperation and establishing sustainable community networks.
Referring to an index developed by the Central Policy Unit to measure deprivation in local districts, the Commission preliminarily considered that Yuen Long, Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong are the districts that deserve priority attention. The Commission will visit Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong in the coming two months. Members will also take part in fact-finding visits to other districts in accordance with the community-based approach.
In the first meeting of the Commission, members discussed the compilation of poverty indicators. They generally agreed that as Hong Kong was a relatively affluent place, it was inappropriate to study Hong Kong's poverty situation and set priority of the Commission's tasks with reference only to income levels. Instead, multiple indicators should be compiled to help the needy improve their ability, promote self-reliance and ensure that the disadvantaged had the opportunities to obtain necessary services and support.
At today's meeting, members discussed a paper prepared by the Economic Analysis and Business Facilitation Unit, which suggested compilation of poverty indicators for the following four social groups:
* Children and youth
* Working people and adults
* Older people
* Community
These indicators are measurable in a quantitative manner and statistically robust. There are six broad categories of indicators - earnings/income support; education/training; employment; health; living conditions and community/family support.
Since earnings is the most relevant indicator, data related to the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) will be adopted in compiling poverty indicators for all social groups. They will be supplemented by data of other means-test schemes for public services. This is to ensure that non-CSSA low-income groups will also be accorded priority in provision of assistance.
"The poverty indicators discussed at the meeting are the first step taken by the Commission to understand Hong Kong's poverty situations through a scientific approach," Mr Tang said. "We will maintain an open mind in further studies and discussions of these poverty indicators with members and other interested non-government organisations. Our objective is to develop indicators which can best help us tackle Hong Kong's poverty problem."
Mr Tang said: "The compilation of poverty indicators and the actual work on poverty alleviation are complementary to each other. While we will continue to refine the poverty indicators, the work of various government departments, the social welfare sector and non-government organisations in preventing and alleviating poverty as well as promoting self-reliance will progress side by side. Compilation of multiple poverty indicators will not hinder the Commission's actual work in alleviating poverty."
Indeed, the Commission also discussed its future work programme at today's meeting.
After the first meeting, the Commission's Secretariat consulted members on the focus of future work and drafted a work programme.
Most members considered that while some disadvantaged groups would require further assistance, the existing services were generally quite diversified and could broadly help the needy. They also considered that the overall services and the level of support were generally sufficient.
Nevertheless, members noted that in view of rapid social changes and the gaps between different communities, the Commission should formulate short-term and long-term work programmes to address the needs of disadvantaged groups including the younger generation, unemployed, working poor and older people.
On the short-term work, members considered that the programme should cover both the vertical and horizontal dimensions. On the horizontal front, the Commission should foster the community-based approach by following up on district visits, encouraging community engagement, establishing community networks and catering for community needs.
On the vertical front, members considered that the Commission should pay attention to the priority disadvantaged groups identified and encourage multi-disciplinary and cross-sector cooperation to enhance policy integration. In the coming six to nine months, the Commission will first focus on studying measures to alleviate inter-generational poverty and encouraging able-bodied unemployed people to rejoin the work force. For the other disadvantaged groups identified, e.g. older people, the relevant policy bureaux and departments will continue with their work under the existing policy framework. The Commission will include these target groups in its active work programme at the next stage.
On the long-term work, the Commission will consider whether the efficiency and effectiveness of various services can be enhanced. It will also work with the relevant advisory committees and bureaux to review, whether necessary, the key service and support programmes to see whether they would require any modification and modernisation.
Ends/Monday, April 11, 2005
NNNN
