Policy Address

Community Care Fund

57.         The Community Care Fund (CCF) is an important part of the Government’s poverty alleviation blueprint.  Since its establishment in 2011, the CCF has effectively plugged gaps in the existing system by launching 24 assistance programmes with more than 600 000 beneficiaries.  So far, three pilot programmes that have been found effective in alleviating poverty have been incorporated into the Government’s regular assistance programmes.  From April 2014, the Government will progressively regularise another seven programmes.  Beneficiaries will include primary and secondary students receiving student financial assistance; underprivileged students pursuing eligible programmes below sub-degree level; CSSA recipients who are Tenants Purchase Scheme flat owners; children from low-income families on the waiting list for subvented pre-school rehabilitation services; and, persons with severe physical disabilities living in the community and requiring constant care.

58.         The CCF Task Force under the CoP will continue to ensure the efficient use of the CCF’s resources, including the additional injection of $15 billion last year, in drawing up more assistance programmes to meet the needs of different groups.  The Government will also request the CoP to continue strengthening the support for low-income families in the coming year, including the possible provision of a one-off subsidy for children or young people from such families as well as low-income families not living in PRH and not receiving CSSA (known colloquially as the “n have-nots”).

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