********************************************************
The Government attaches great importance to the well-being of the young generation and is committed to nurturing them into responsible citizens with aspirations. The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said this at the launching of an after-school counselling programme organised by the Hong Kong and Macao Lions Beacon for Youth Foundation today (October 4).
Mr Cheung said that the Government aimed to promote a multifarious culture of excellence that would enable youths with different backgrounds, characters and potentials to have more choices.
"We also strive to reduce inter-generational poverty and enhance social mobility. The Child Development Fund (CDF), which aims to broaden teenagers' horizons through its mentorship programme and a targeted savings initiative, has benefited nearly 7 000 teenagers from grassroots families since its establishment in 2008. In this financial year, we plan to inject $300 million into the CDF to support its sustainable development," said Mr Cheung.
"In addition, we plan to inject $400 million to the Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged in this financial year, in order to further encourage tripartite collaboration among the welfare sector, the business community and the Government in helping the disadvantaged. Of this, $200 million will be dedicated to providing more after-school learning and support programmes for primary and secondary school students from grassroots families," he said.
Mr Cheung added that the Administration had been actively preparing to launch the Low-income Working Family Allowance, a new policy initiative targeted at promoting self-reliance through employment and reducing inter-generational poverty. Over 200 000 low-income working households involving 710 000 persons, of whom some 180 000 are eligible children or youngsters, are expected to benefit. The estimated expenditure for subsidy payment will amount to $3 billion a year.
"Just take a look at all those new welfare initiatives and sustained efforts made since the commencement of the current-term Government, they are all targeted measures benefiting different social sectors including the elderly, persons with disabilities, new arrivals, ethnic minorities, low-income working households, women, grassroots children and teenagers.
"The recurrent expenditure on social welfare in this financial year amounts to $56.9 billion, representing 18.5 per cent of the total recurrent government expenditure, just second to that on education. Comparing with the revised estimate of $51.9 billion last year, there is a nearly 10 per cent increase of $5 billion. The broad range of beneficiaries and the resources devoted testify to the Government's people-oriented policy direction and commitment to enhance the well-being of the underprivileged," said Mr Cheung.
Ends/Saturday, October 4, 2014
Issued at HKT 17:35
NNNN