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SOCIAL WELFARE IN HONG KONG


 

MISSION OF SOCIAL WELFARE IN HONG KONG

"Welfare is a requisite for the well-being of any society. As such, our mission is to build a caring community so that people can develop their potential to the full, thereby enabling society to flourish in a stable environment. The focus in our welfare system is to strengthen both the individual and the family unit, assist and enable those with genuine needs, provide them with opportunities to achieve self-reliance and self-betterment, and promote social cohesion and harmony."
~ The 2000 Policy Address of HKSAR Government

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)

  • Hyperlink to Agency Members' Web Sites and e-mail address to enhance understanding of their mission, corporate goals, operation and services.

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.
  • Introducing Scopes of work and Organization of Elderly Commission.

Commission on Youth (http://www.info.gov.hk/coy/eng/)

  • Introducing Scopes of work and Organization of Commission on Youth
  • Introducing Scopes of work and Organization of Women¡¦s Commission


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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