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The Financial Secretary, Mr Henry Tang, chaired the seventh meeting of the Commission on Poverty (the Commission) this afternoon (January 23).
Members studied low-income groups in Hong Kong and reviewed existing government policies and measures aimed at providing support and assistance to them. These include policies relating to public housing, public health care, education, welfare and salaries tax. Together they have taken up more than half of the public expenditure. Members noted that these policies and measures have provided a comprehensive system of support to low-income families in helping them to meet their basic daily needs.
Financial Secretary and Commission Chairman Mr Henry Tang said the comprehensive system was befitting of a caring society. "The 60% spending increase over the last 10 years reflects the readiness of the community to provide additional support to the less fortunate as Hong Kong becomes more affluent," he said.
Members also noted that the financial support given to the unemployed under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme amounted to $7 billion in 2004/05, while spending on income support to low-earning families stood at $1 billion. Another $5 billion was invested in assisting the unemployed back to work.
"It is important to help those who are able to work to rejoin the labour market. This will also help ensure that our social safety net is sustainable," Mr Tang said.
"Employment is the key to self-reliance. The Government would spare no effort in encouraging able-bodied CSSA recipients and the unemployed to find and retain jobs," Mr Tang added.
Members noted that if the impact of salaries tax, public housing and education benefits are taken into account, the Gini Coefficient which reflects income disparity in 2001 would be reduced by about 14%. This confirms the effectiveness of our social policies in providing necessary support for low-income families and the need to look beyond income levels when assessing the poverty situation in Hong Kong.
On the way ahead, the Commission agreed to conduct a more detailed assessment of the poverty situation of different groups in society to help enlighten future deliberation on resource allocation among the needy. Members also agreed to launch a study on how the current system is providing assistance to the "non-working poor" and the "working poor", including the provision of disregarded earnings under the CSSA Scheme.
The Commission also noted that the newly set-up Task Force on District-based Approach held its first meeting last Saturday (January 21). The task force reached decisions on supporting sustainable district projects. Members shared the importance of community participation and cross-sector partnership in sustainable poverty prevention and alleviation.
The agenda and papers of the meeting are available at the official website of the Commission: www.cop.gov.hk.
Ends/Monday, January 23, 2006
Issued at HKT 18:19
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