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Following is a question by the Hon Cheung Kwok-che and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, in the Legislative Council today (May 25):
Question:
Since 2005, the Social Welfare Department has been provided with an annual recurrent provision of $15 million for implementing the District Support Scheme for Children and Youth Development through the District Social Welfare Offices to address the developmental needs of disadvantaged children and youths aged 0 to 24. Some of the funding is used for implementing individual projects in various districts, while some is granted to children and youths in need in the form of direct cash assistance. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council of:
(a) the amount used to support district projects and cover related programme expenses in each of the past three years, broken down by district;
(b) the amount of cash assistance granted directly to deprived children and youths as well as the number of beneficiaries in each of the past three years, broken down by district;
(c) the number of projects approved as well as the amounts involved in each of the past three years under each of the following categories: (1) organising small group activities to address the developmental needs of those children and youths who have keen interest and immense talent in sports and arts (eg music, painting and drama, etc); (2) implementing mentorship, job skills training programmes, etc on self-employment/job-hunting so as to enhance the self-reliance of unemployed youths; and (3) arranging volunteer services, leadership skills training and youth exchange programmes; and
(d) in each of the past three years, the number of applications for direct cash assistance, as well as the number of cases not approved and the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
(a) The breakdown of funding granted under the District Support Scheme for Children and Youth Development (the Scheme) to support district projects and cover related programme expenses by district in the past three years are at Annex 1.
(b) The breakdown of direct cash assistance (DCA) granted to deprived children and youths as well as the number of beneficiaries by district in the past three years are at Annex 2.
(c) The number of projects approved in the past three years and the funding involved in the following categories: (1) organising small group activities to address the developmental needs of those children and youths who have keen interest and special talent in sports and arts (eg music, painting, and drama etc); (2) implementing mentorship, job skills training programmes, etc. on self-employment/job-hunting so as to enhance the self-reliance of unemployed youths; and (3) arranging volunteer services, leadership skills training and youth exchange programmes, are at Annex 3.
(d) In the past three years (ie 2008-09, 2009-10 and 2010-11), the numbers of DCA applications approved were 6 194, 6 183 and 6 153 respectively while the number of applications not approved were 10, 15 and 18 respectively. The reasons for not approving some applications include the requested items being out of scope of the Scheme, failure of the applicants to pass the financial assessment, insufficient information provided for vetting, etc.
Ends/Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Issued at HKT 11:30
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