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LCQ19: Home Environment Improvement Scheme for the Elderly
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     Following is a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, to a question by the Hon Wong Kwok-hing on the Home Environment Improvement Scheme for the Elderly in the Legislative Council today (November 19):

Question :

     In June this year, the Social Welfare Department launched the Home Environment Improvement Scheme for the Elderly ("the Home Improvement Scheme") under which District Elderly Community Centres ("DECCs") will arrange minor home maintenance and improvement works as well as provide necessary fittings for eligible elderly people, and the amount of subsidy for each eligible household (elderly people living alone or together) will be subject to a ceiling of $5,000.  Some organisations have reflected that there are quite a number of problems with the Scheme's implementation.  In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) what criteria the participating DECCs are required to adopt in drawing up their lists of service suppliers and purchasing household items for the elderly, and whether the elderly people have the right to participate; if not, the reasons for that;

(b) in the event that the elderly people are dissatisfied with the maintenance/improvement works or the household items that DECCs have arranged or purchased for them, whether they can request the DECCs to arrange for the suppliers concerned to rectify the works or replace the fittings free of charge; if not, whether it will consider formulating a mechanism for such purposes; and

(c) whether it will review the current monitoring and assessment mechanism to ensure effective utilisation of public funds by DECCs?

Answer :

President,

     The Government has set aside funding in this year's Budget for implementing the Home Environment Improvement Scheme for the Elderly (the Scheme) to assist elders who live in dilapidated homes with poor fittings and lack financial means to improve their home conditions. The Social Welfare Department (SWD) launched the Scheme in June 2008 and engaged the 41 District Elderly Community Centres (DECCs) throughout the territory as delivery agencies of the Scheme.

     My reply to the question is as follows:

(a) Before rolling out the Scheme, SWD had developed implementation guidelines for DECCs to follow in processing applications.  According to the guidelines, DECCs are required to draw up a list of service suppliers approved by the Board of Directors of the non-governmental organisations concerned for the provision of home environment improvement works for elders under the Scheme.  In drawing up the list, DECCs should take into account factors such as the service quality and reliability of service suppliers in addition to the fees they charge.  For instance, DECCs should consider whether the service suppliers have hired qualified artisans, taken out employees' compensation and third party insurance, as well as provided complementary services such as follow-up works and maintenance, etc. To ensure fairness and openness of the procurement procedures, DECCs must also refer to the "Subvented Social Welfare Non-Governmental Organisations - Procurement Procedures" issued by the Corruption Prevention Department of the Independent Commission Against Corruption in March 2001.  For purchase of fittings, DECCs will mainly consider the practical and safety aspects of the products.

     In processing the applications, DECCs will first assess if applicants meet the eligibility criteria of the Scheme.  They will then arrange social workers to conduct home environment assessments in order to ascertain the applicants' needs under the scope of the Scheme and arrange the improvement works and purchase of household fittings.  Before providing the services, DECCs will explain to the applicants the approved items and the estimated amount of subsidy required. After obtaining the applicants' consent, DECCs will proceed with the improvement works and/or purchase of fittings.

(b) As stated in Part (a), DECCs will only carry out the works and/or purchase the fittings after obtaining the consent of the applicants. If the applicants notice any damage when inspecting the concerned items before formal acceptance, DECCs will take follow-up actions, such as requiring the service suppliers to conduct remedial works or replace the damaged fittings.  In general, no additional costs should be charged to applicants under such circumstances.

(c) As stated in Part (a), before rolling out the Scheme, SWD has developed implementation guidelines for processing and vetting applications.  The guidelines are developed after detailed discussion with the sector (including representatives of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service and welfare organisations) and have been provided to DECCs for reference in processing and vetting applications.   

     Besides, the participating DECCs are governed by their service agreements with SWD which stipulated a wide range of monitoring measures. For instance, SWD will conduct regular as well as random checks on DECCs' records to ensure that they follow the established procurement procedures of the non-governmental organisations in selecting service suppliers and that the criteria used for vetting and approving the applications are in compliance with the requirements laid down in SWD's guidelines. SWD has started sending staff to DECCs to conduct random checks on processed cases.  DECCs are also required to submit financial reports to SWD at regular intervals and maintain all financial records for checking.

     SWD will continue to listen to views about the Scheme and maintain close liaison with DECCs on implementation details with a view to identifying areas for further improvement in the light of practical experience.

Ends/Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:46

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