Policy Address

145.         The Government will continue to implement the $2 public transport fare concession scheme.  The scheme was extended to green minibuses in phases from March 2015, and the number of daily passenger trips taken by beneficiaries of the scheme has now exceeded 930 000. 

146.         On care for the elderly, apart from earmarking sites in 20 new development projects for the construction of elderly facilities, the Labour and Welfare Bureau is actively pursuing the Special Scheme on Privately Owned Sites for Welfare Uses.  About 9 000 new elderly service places and 8 000 new rehabilitation service places will be provided if the 60 or so projects under the scheme are implemented.

147.         The Government will strengthen home care services.  The number of places for Enhanced Home and Community Care Services and Integrated Home Care Services (Frail Cases) increased to 8 365 in 2015, 35% higher than that in 2012.  Apart from stepping up community care services under the conventional approach, the Government has also implemented the Pilot Scheme on Community Care Service Voucher for the Elderly.  Under a new funding mode of “money-following-the-user”, the Government provides subsidies for service users directly in the form of service vouchers, allowing them to choose the community care services that suit their needs.  All 1 200 vouchers under the first phase were issued by early April 2014.  The Social Welfare Department is preparing to issue an additional 1 800 vouchers in the second phase expected to be launched this year.

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