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The Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Raymond Young, said at the Lions Forum today (November 10) that the initiative of Community Care Fund echoed the Policy Address's theme of "Sharing Prosperity for a Caring Society". It leverages the strengths of the private and public sectors to help people in need in areas not covered by the conventional welfare schemes.
Responding to various suggestions on the fund, for example, that projects worthy of support could be included in the conventional social security system, Mr Young did not rule out the possibility that some projects, if run smoothly, could be considered for inclusion, but broad public support must be obtained and the principle of fiscal prudence must be observed.
¡°The scope of the present social security system was not small and constituted a considerable proportion of the Government's expenditure. Further expansion of the scope might incur substantial recurrent expenditures. They warrant careful consideration.¡±
On queries why the fund came under the ambit of Home Affairs Bureau (HAB) and why operational details were not yet available, Mr Young pointed out that it was a reasonable division of labour. While bureaus including the Labour and Welfare Bureau, Education Bureau and Food and Health Bureau are providing assistance within the conventional welfare system, it is more appropriate for a separate bureau to handle cases for assistance which are not yet formalised and fall outside the current system.
¡°It is not our plan to release funds through the District Councils or district organisations, so the fund operation will not be influenced by political elements,¡± he said.
Mr Young explained that due to the need to avoid the impression that it was fait accompli, there was only a concept outline of the fund in the Policy Address. Operational details will be discussed by a steering committee represented by people from various sectors and chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration.
He said that the Government would soon announce the appointment of the committee which would hold its first meeting shortly, and views were welcome.
On another policy area of HAB ¡ª sports, Mr Young said the Government had all along been sending clear messages about the three strategic directions - to help elite athletes achieve excellence; to develop a strong sporting culture in the community; and to raise Hong Kong's profile as a centre for international sports events. The bid to host the 2023 Asian Games, if any, filled the bill.
On concerns heard in the current public consultation on whether Hong Kong should bid to host the 2023 Asian Games, he deemed it inappropriate to treat hosting the games as a business. As a full-fledged society, needy people would be taken care of on one hand, and on the other hand, moves which were for the long term benefit and fostered the city's international and cosmopolitan status should be made.
On the announcement yesterday to cut the direct capital cost of hosting the games, Mr Young said the new proposal had not only responded to the public's concern on the costs but also met the requirements for staging the games.
He stressed that it did not mean the original proposals had been made "rashly". In the original proposals, the three new sports centres would include related facilities such as VIP rooms, press rooms, medical services and secondary courts for training and heats. The spectator stands would have a greater capacity. In the new option, the facilities would be temporary overlays and heats or warm-up could be done in sports centres nearby.
"Although this is not ideal, it meets the requirements of the games as well as responds to public's concerns," he added.
In the speech, Mr Young highlighted the HAB's policy goals and work following the Chief Executive's Policy Address. The bureau's work covers district administration, people's livelihood affairs, and sports and cultural and arts.
Ends/Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Issued at HKT 20:38
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