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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, on the Pilot Scheme on Living Allowance for Carers of the Elderly Persons from Low Income Families:
Reporter: (On the Pilot Scheme on Living Allowance for Carers of the Elderly Persons from Low Income Families)
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: The carer allowance scheme is designed really to help those elderly people who require the help of other people to look after them, in particular the relatives and so on. So the objective is really to invite application from those on the Central Waiting List for long term care, either for residential or community care services. It is meant to be a pilot for three years, and the caretaker has to provide at least 80 hours of service for one individual. If they are looking after two persons, then it has to be 120 hours, and the allowance will be up to $4,000 a month. But basically, we are talking about $2,000 per person. It is meant to be a pilot for three years, and if the pilot proves to be viable and successful, we do not rule out the possibility of making it a regular programme.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Saturday, May 31, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:42
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