Policy Address

VI. Poverty Alleviation, Elderly Care and Support for the Disadvantaged

Poverty Alleviation

142.         Poverty alleviation, elderly care and support for the disadvantaged are at the top of the current-term Government’s agenda.  Shortly after assuming office, I introduced the Old Age Living Allowance, which has benefited about 430 000 elderly persons.  In the same year, the Guangdong Scheme was implemented to provide Old Age Allowance for elderly persons who have chosen to reside in Guangdong, benefiting 16 300.  In the past three years or so, the Government has launched various measures to alleviate poverty and these efforts are gradually delivering results.  Our poor population and poverty rate dropped to 960 000 and 14.3% respectively in 2014, which are record lows since 2009.  I am glad to see that the number of unemployment cases under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme has decreased for more than 70 consecutive months, and the overall caseload has also dropped to the same low level recorded in 2002. 

143.         The Government very much encourages underprivileged people capable of working to achieve self-reliance through employment.  The Low-income Working Family Allowance Scheme, which I proposed in the Policy Address two years ago, will accept applications in May this year.  The scheme also aims at encouraging self-reliance, and is expected to benefit around 200 000 grassroot families with some 700 000 people, including 170 000 eligible youngsters.

144.         The Government provides a transport subsidy to encourage employment.  We proactively advanced the review and enhancement of the Work Incentive Transport Subsidy Scheme and have adopted a “dual-track” approach.  At the end of last year, over 98 000 people had received total subsidy of nearly $1.2 billion.  The Government is now conducting a comprehensive review of the scheme. 

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