SOSC 103D Social Inequality in HK Lecture 17: Poverty Policies in HK

L17: Social Welfare Conservative view & Liberal view on: Causes of Long-term Poverty Solution to Poverty Ways to avoid Long-term and Intergenerational Poverty

L17: Welfare in Hong Kong Traditional system of social support Charitable organizations Churches

L17: Traditional system of social support Strong family ties “ The history of welfare in HK this century has been a history of charitable organizations in which the powerful family networks of obligation and reciprocity continue to be of major importance ” (Chow, 1983)

L17: History of welfare/ social policies Social Welfare Office (1948) Offer public assistance Means-tested Public Assistance Scheme (1971) Cash assistance for elderly people with inadequate, or no support from their families (Hong Kong, 1977) Special Needs Allowances (1973) A Higher Disability Allowance (1988)

L17: Role of public/ social assistance Cases of CSSA (in year 2004)

L17: The level of public assistance payments Key question for policy-makers: How much public assistance is enough? “ To meet the minimum acceptable standard of living for the poor ” The problem of setting too high The problem of setting too low

L17: The Subsistence Approach A minimalist approach Meeting no more than the costs of physical survival The Basic Needs Approach Meeting also the access to essential services: transport, health, education … Recognize the social needs of a poor person The Style of Living Approach (P. Townsend) Living in a commonly regarded decent and acceptable living style (restore their citizenships) Change of Definition of Poverty

L17: Helping the Poor and Needy Ensuring basic social protection and support Promoting Self-reliance Provide individuals with opportunities to develop and enhance themselves and  Free themselves from poverty through employment, education and training

L17: Limitations of welfare policies  What kind of training do they receive?  What kind of jobs would they have after the training? Change Low income population from 1997 to 2006 Less than $3000/month Less than $5000/month Longer than 55 hrs/week % of total working population

L17: Other Kinds of Help??? Limitation of HK’s welfare policies… Outdated labour policies Narrow definition of poverty Change of social and family composition Inequality structure of current society

L17: Readings: Lee, William (2002) “Poverty Policy in Hong Kong: Western Models and Cultural Divergence,” in Social Development Issues, 24(1): 45-55