Policy Address
33. Expenses for children starting a new school year pose a burden to many parents. As part of the $19.1 billion relief measures announced in August this year, the Financial Secretary proposed a one-off student grant of $2,500 for secondary day school, primary school and kindergarten students. I propose to regularise the provision of the student grant from the 2020/21 school year with an annual grant of $2,500 for each student. The grant will benefit about 900 000 students in Hong Kong.
34. To further support working families with lower incomes to achieve self-reliance and alleviate inter-generational poverty, we propose to raise all payment rates of the Working Family Allowance (WFA). There will be a 16.7% to 25% increase in the working-hour linked household allowance under the Scheme, while the Child Allowance will be raised substantially by 40%. Taking a four-person household with two eligible children as an example, the maximum level of allowance under the WFA Scheme will increase by over 30% from the existing $3,200 per month to $4,200 per month.
35. In view of the cramped living environment in Hong Kong, public open spaces in districts should provide interesting play areas for children. Upon completion of modification last year, the children’s playground in Tuen Mun Park is very popular with parents and children. We plan to modify more than 170 public play spaces managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) over the next five years. To make the facilities more innovative and fun, while meeting the needs of residents, LCSD will encourage and promote community participation and public engagement in the process of modifying these facilities.
