(D) The Changes in the Policies of Social Welfare and
Year Policy Paper/
Related Report
Development in
Social Welfare Development in Social Security
1967
1971
The report put forward the principle of social insurance and recommended to gradually establish a comprehensive social insurance system covering illness and medical care for the protection of the aged, widows and orphans, work injury, maternity and unemployment.
It also suggested that Hong Kong should take immediate steps in preparing for the aging population in the future.
The longer the delay, the greater the cost in the future.
Means-tested "public assistance” was
introduced to protect the elderly, no income or low income individuals and families by providing cash assistance.
Before that, only some voluntary agencies provided limited cash assistance to the poor and the assistance from government was mainly in material support.
After the reform, public assistance was rendered in the form of cash with the amount adjusted in line with price changes Report by
the Inter-departmental Working Party to Consider Certain Aspects of Social
Security
Year Policy Paper/
Related Report
Development in
Social Welfare Development in Social Security
1973
1974
1977
The scheme of
disability and infirmity allowances (later renamed as Special Need Allowances) and the Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation (CLEIC) Scheme were established for residents who are severely
disabled or who are 65 years of age or above.
The allowances paid under the scheme were non-means-tested and not counted as income in the means-test of public assistance.
The importance of public assistance in improving elderly service was emphasised. The old age allowance increased and the medical, housing and home help services for the elderly expanded.
The plan for future development of medical and health services was announced.
It was proposed to increase the services and care workers for the disabled from 1977 to 1986.
It suggested more services for the
elderly and building of recreational centres for the elderly.
White Paper:
Social Welfare in Hong Kong – the Way Ahead
White Paper:
Integrating the Disabled into the Community : a United Effort
Green Paper:
“Services for the Elderly”
The Government
announced the Ten-year Housing Programme for the development of public housing. The Housing Authority was formed.
A large scale five-year plan of social welfare programme was proposed to develop a system of consultation, training and financing of the voluntary agencies.
Year Policy Paper/
Related Report
Development in
Social Welfare Development in Social Security
1977
1978
Extended the scheme of Public Assistance to cover able-bodied aged between 15 and 55 in April.
The old age allowance and disability allowance also increased with the introduction of elderly and long-term supplements. It was also suggested to set up a centrally organised half-voluntary social insurance for illness and death, being contributed by the employers and employees in 2%.
From October, the age eligible for old age allowance was lowered from 75 to 70 to serve more elderly. Besides, old age supplement was offered to the elderly aged 60-70 who were also on Public Assistance.
It started the outreaching social work, school social work and family life education.
The Housing Authority launched the Home Ownership Scheme to help families of low-middle income to buy their own flats in an affordable price.
Green Paper:
Help for Those Least Able To Help Themselves
Program Plan on Personal Social Work Among Young People
Year Policy Paper/
Related Report
Development in
Social Welfare Development in Social Security
1979
1981
1982
1985
1987
The disability supplement was included in the Public Assistance. The Traffic Accident Victims
Assistance Scheme will be introduced to relieve the victims from financial hardship.
It was suggested to increase places in the aged and nursing homes by 3,000 and the number of elderly hostels by 5,000. At the same time, the elderly service was also developed by providing various community services.
The scope of youth counselling service was also extended to school social work and family life education.
Nursery was set up in the community centres to take care of the
children from low income family. Besides, the school social work was extended to primary schools and supported the development of youth organisations.
Hospital Authority was established to introduce a series of policies on cost recovering and out-of-pocket payment.
The strategy was amended from public rental housing to
assisted home purchase flats.
It became mandatory for employers to provide occupational insurance for diseases and injuries.
White Paper:
Social Welfare into the 1980’s
White Paper:
Primary
Education and Pre-Primary Services
Scott Report
The first Long Term Housing Policy
Year Policy Paper/
Related Report
Development in
Social Welfare Development in Social Security
1991
1993
1995
1997
The importance of the protection for retirement was recognised and it was agreed that the elderly should be provided with financial support.
The Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme and Social Security Allowance Scheme was introduced to replace the Public Assistance Scheme and Special Needs Allowance Scheme respectively.
Enactment of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance (Cap.485) (MPFSO) upon the release of a consultancy report on MPF by a government-appointed consulting firm.
The first White Paper on rehabilitation.
Social Workers Registration Board was established. It is a statutory and regulatory system to monitor the quality of social workers and ultimately protect the interests of service users and the general public.
White Paper:
Social Welfare into the 1990s and Beyond
White Paper:
Rehabilitation – Equal Opportunities and Full Participation:
a Better Tomorrow for all
Year Policy Paper/
Related Report
Development in
Social Welfare Development in Social Security
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
Support for Self-reliance (SFS) Scheme was implemented under the Social Security scheme.
SWD set up the Emergency Relief Support Unit following the closure of the Kowloon Kitchen.
SWD commissioned NGOs to operate the Intensive Employment Assistance Projects The Government
outsourced social services through open tenders.
Implementation of Lump Sum Grant system.
Community Investment and Inclusion Fund to develop social capital . Establishment of Women Commission.
‘Enhanced Home and Community Care Services was set up and the residential care services started to be contracted out.
SWD launched “3E's Project” to provide funding support to NGOs to set up small business for the
creation of employment opportunities.
The community-based support project was launched for persons with disabilities and their families and expanded Home-based Training and Support Service.
During SARS, the social welfare and health sectors collaborated to combat the
communicable disease.
Every aged home for the elderly designated an Infection Control Officer.
Year Policy Paper/
Related Report
Development in
Social Welfare Development in Social Security
2004
2005
Integrated Vocational Rehabilitation
Services Centres were established to provide persons with disabilities with a range of
vocational rehabilitation services.
In elderly service, the subvented self-care hostels and homes for the aged places were converted into long-term care places.
Integrated family
services centres (IFSC) were set up to provide preventive, support and remedial services. The IFSCs were run by SWD and NGOs.
Commission on Poverty was established.
SWD launched Partnership Fund for the Disadvantaged to encourage the collaboration of
commercial and welfare sectors in providing social services.
Year Policy Paper/
Related Report
Development in
Social Welfare Development in Social Security
2006
2007
2008
SWD launched the New Dawn Project to help CSSA single parents and child carers with the youngest child aged 12 to 14 to integrate into the community and move towards self-reliance.
NGOs were
commissioned to operate two ‘Special Training and Enhancement Programmes’ to help the long-term unemployed able-bodied CSSA recipients aged between 15 and 24 to secure employment.
NGOs were commissioned to operate the Integrated Employment Assistance Scheme to help the unemployed able-bodied CSSA recipients secure employment and move towards self-reliance.
Child Development Fund was established.
SWD launched a five-year ‘Home Environment Improvement Scheme for the Elderly’.
11.5 Welfare Systems in Different Countries
Western and Northern European countries were the earliest countries to develop their social security system. They are typical welfare states to protect their citizens across their entire lifespan. Immediately after World War II, the United Kingdom announced a series of legislative measures on social security from the cradle to the grave, claiming itself as a welfare state. France and Germany followed by improving and expanding their legislation on social security measures and became the ‘display windows’ of the welfare states.