SOSC 103DSocial Inequality in HK

Lecture 17: Poverty Policies in HK

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Social Welfare

Conservative view & Liberal view on:

Causes of Long-term Poverty Solution to Poverty Ways to avoid Long-term and

Intergenerational Poverty

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Welfare in Hong Kong

Traditional system of social support Charitable organizations Churches

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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)

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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)

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Role of public/ social assistance

Elderly51%

PermanentlyDisabled

5%

Sick/ TemporarilyDisabled

8%

Single-parentfamilies

13%

Low income people5%

Unemployed16%

Others2%

Cases of CSSA (in year 2004)

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Readings:

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