Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, October 10, 2003
Self-reliance measures pay off in HK
Hong Kong registered a Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) active caseload of 288,648 in September, up by 0.4 percent from that of August, a Hong Kong official said here Thursday.
Hong Kong registered a Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) active caseload of 288,648 in September, up by 0.4 percent from that of August, a Hong Kong official said here Thursday.
Director of Social Welfare Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor noted, "The easing of the growth rate of the CSSA caseload is not only theresult of a decrease in new applications; it also shows the effectiveness of the intensified Support for Self-reliance measures."
Officiating at the Kick-off Ceremony cum Cheque Presentation for the Intensive Employment Assistance Projects (IEAPs), she encouraged employable CSSA recipients and "near CSSA" recipients at risk of falling into the CSSA net to take advantage of help to improve their job skills so they can move towards greater self-reliance.
Various sectors of the community are helping the Social WelfareDepartment (SWD) in its efforts to encourage self-reliance. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust and the Lotteries Fund have allocated 200 million HK dollars (25.6 million US dollars) to commission non-governmental organizations as operating agencies tolaunch IEAPs.
With these funds, the operating agencies can provide tailor-made employment assistance services to CSSA and "near CSSA" recipients to help them secure gainful employment. It is planned that the IEAPs will initiate 100 projects in three batches over a period of four years, helping about 27,000 people in the process.