MISSION OF SOCIAL
WELFARE IN HONG KONG
MILESTONES OF SOCIAL
WELFARE DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG
In 1960s, voluntary agencies pioneered various
kinds of service initiatives, laying a good foundation for the social
welfare development in Hong Kong. In 1970s and 1980s, in response
to the rapid economic development, voluntary agencies worked hand
in hand with the Government to develop diversified welfare services
to meet the social needs. In 1990s, welfare agencies cultivated
partnership with different sectors and even international counterparts
to facilitate the development of society. In the past fifty years,
social welfare in Hong Kong has rapid development, from providing
relief work to providing diversified and professional services at
international level.
CONTRIBUTIONS OF VOLUNTARY
WELFARE AGENCIES IN HONG KONG
There are 370 voluntary welfare agencies, with
over 40,000 employed staff, providing over 90% of the welfare services
in Hong Kong. The number of benefited service recipients to around
57 millions man-times, including children, young people, adults,
elderly people, disabled persons, chronically ill persons, unemployed
people, women with emotional problems, and new arrivals, etc. Through
providing services and support to all walks of life, voluntary agencies
have been contributing much to social cohesion, stability, and development.
| No. of Voluntary Agencies |
~370 |
| % in Provision of Welfare Services |
90% |
| Benefited Service recipients (men-times) |
~57 millions |
| Employed Staff |
~40,000 |
| Service Units Around |
~3,400 |
| |
2006 (estimation) |
THE SCOPE OF WELFARE
SERVICES IN HKSAR
Diversified social welfare services are provided
in Hong Kong. Besides family, community, children, youth, and rehabilitation
services, partnerships with different sectors have been enhanced
in recent years to provide all kinds of pilot services, such as
employee retraining programme, support service for the chronically
ill persons, public education on prevention of AIDS, social work
team at urban renewal areas, etc. The scope of welfare services
covers aspects like labor, employment, education, medical, health
care, housing, urban renewal, transport, eradication of poverty,
and international relief work, etc.
RECURRENT COST OF
SOCIAL WELFARE IN HONG KONG
In 2005/2006, the Government allocated HK$32.192
billions for welfare spending, among which HK$23.758 billions, HK$1.6
billions and HK$6.834 billions were allocated for social security,
direct services operated by the Social Welfare Department, and different
services operated by voluntary agenices respectively. The Hong Kong
Jockey Club Charities Trust and the Community Chest had totally
allocated over HK$0.75 billions. Therefore, the work of the welfare
sector is essential in meeting various needs of society and building
a stable society.
Income Sources of Voluntary Agencies
(figure in 2005/2006) |
| Funding from SWD |
HK$6.834 billions |
| Lotteries Fund |
HK$0.846 billions |
| The Community Chest |
HK$0.16 billions |
| Jockey Club (Social Service) |
HK$0.59 billions |
IDENTIFYING THE CHALLENGES
FOR SOCIAL WELFARE IN HKSAR
In the coming years, the challenges for social
welfare in Hong Kong is to deal with complex political, social and
economic consequences arising from fast globalization, macro-economic
unpredictability, structural unemployment, cross border movement,
and rapid ageing population.
1. Economic Restructuring
-
Job
and Income Insecurity: The new mode of business
operation due to technological advancement and globalization
causes structural job displacement and leads to high rate of
unemployment. Jobs are no longer stable and secured in all levels.
Life-long careers are replaced by casual and contract jobs.
Fast and continuous changes in job market warrant quick alignment
of job skills and retraining of workers.
-
Poverty
and Disparities of Wealth:
The number of people earning low wages is rising and the disparities
between the wealthy and the poor are at its greatest. Poverty
will continue to be a critical problem facing the significant
population mass.
-
Increasing
Competition and Decreasing Life Chances:
The belief that one could
succeed if he/she tried hard enough is being challenged in this
generation. Disadvantaged groups are at considerable risk under
increasing competition, impairing their chances of improving
their lives and moving up the social ladder will be increasingly
difficult.
2. Social Changes
-
Ageing
and Radically Changing Population Structure:
The ageing of the society is accelerating with the
ageing of the baby-boom generation. In addition, the new arrivals
from the Mainland continue to be a major factor contributing
to the growth of the population. The changes in population profile
such as age and sex composition, family structure will eventually
affect the economic and social development of the society.
-
Vaguer
Border and Fluid Population: Changes in economic
structure have led to more families with members going to seek
employment cross the border. Hong Kong is no longer a secluded
community from the Mainland. Fluid border situation and mobile
population will create a new social dimension and challenges
that will affect the planning of social services.
-
Eroding Family Solidarity and Functioning: The
changing family structure and weakening family relationship
are eroding the traditional social support and caring functions
of the family. Yet, there are few new social cohesive forces
readily available to take its place.
-
Social Exclusion and Marginalization: The
social impact of increasing disparities in the economic situation
is immense. Given less opportunities, more people will be excluded
from social and economic participation. In this knowledge-based
economy, the gap between those who are able to command the information
technology and those who cannot is further segregating the less
educated, low skilled, aged and disabled groups in what is called
the Digital Divide.
3. Changes in Fabric for Social Cohesion
-
Increasing
Social Stress: Similar to the experience of
many other parts of the world, economic downturn is likely to
sharpen the conflict and dispute among different interest groups.
In Hong Kong, the highly competitive, stressed and rapidly changing
environment inevitably produces new forms of social deprivation,
alienation and distress.
-
Greater
Demands for Social and Political Participation:
There is a growing urge for a more transparent government and
a more open administrative and political system. The betterment
of Hong Kong relies very much on the active participation of
the people who have a strong commitment to the well being of
the society and a sense of belonging to the place.
-
Rising
Expectation on Accountability: There is increasing
demand for efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of public
services that calls for enhanced productivity and refocusing
of resources.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
FOR SOCIAL WELFARE IN HKSAR
In the coming years, social welfare in Hong
Kong has been facing many challenges. We need to invest in social
welfare to build and rebuild the capacity of our community. We need
to have a shift in focus on developing human capital, maximizing
economic and social participation, strengthening family functioning
and building community solidarity.
- Developing
Human Capital: The Social Welfare
empowers people through improving their skills, personal attitudes
and motivations. It connects individuals to communities, and
enables them to contribute to the economic and social development
of the society.
- Maximizing Opportunities
for Self Reliance: The
Social Welfare encourages economic and social participation
by individuals, families and the communities. It prevents the
poor and other marginal groups from social exclusion. It also
provides assistance for the disadvantaged to become self-reliant
and independent.
- Strengthening
Family Solidarity: The
Social Welfare preserves and strengthens families. It builds
their capacity and develops their resilience to meet challenges
of change. It cultivates a family friendly society, strengthens
family solidarity and supports the caring functions of the families.
- Building Community
Cohesiveness: Social Welfare
cultivates an inclusive and non-discriminative environment for
vulnerable members and facilitates their fuller integration
into the community. It fosters positive social relationship,
trust and participation that enhance social harmony and solidarity.
Social Welfare also encourages self-help and mutual care, ameliorating
the effects of pressures on and within communities.
WEB SITES RELATED
TO SOCIAL WELFARE IN HKSAR
(Related Links at HKCSS's Web Site
http://www.hkcss.org.hk)
Related Organizations
HKCSS's Agency Members (http://www.hkcss.org.hk)
Social Welfare Department
(http://www.info.gov.hk/swd)
- Government's Web Site to introduce
welfare services in Hong Kong, social security, welfare spending,
subvention system, etc.
The
Community Chest (http://www.commchest.org)
- The Community Chest is an independent,
non-profit making and non-governmental organization to raise
funds for voluntary agencies to address the needs of disadvantaged
groups.
Policy Advocacy
Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC)
(http://www.eoc.org.hk/eoc/GraphicsFolder/Default.aspx)
- Promoting anti-discrimination laws
and equal opportunities for all
Guardianship
Board (http://www.adultguardianship.org.hk/)
- The Guardianship Board is empowered
to make orders appointing guardians for adults who are unable
to make decisions about their personal, medical or financial
affairs because they have a mental incapacity.
Web Site
of Dr. Hon. CHEUNG Chiu Hung Fernando (http://www.cheungchiuhung.org/)
- The Web Site of Dr. Hon. CHEUNG Chiu
Hung Fernando, a member of Legislative Council (Social Welfare
Functional Constituency), including welfare related information.
Social
Work
Social Workers Registration Board (http://www.swrb.org.hk)
- Introducing functions of the Board,
its Board members and committees, and matters related to the
Social Workers Registration Ordinance
WWW
Resources for Social Workers (http://www.nyu.edu/socialwork/wwwrsw)
- It is designed to facilitate access
to information and resources related to social work profession.
(2007)
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