CITY UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONGDivision of Social Studies

Theme 4:Welfare Institution

Prepared by Group X

What is Social Welfare?

• Laws• Programmes• Benefits• Services

Welfare Institution

PART 1

Sociological perspectives

& Welfare Roles of

Hong Kong Government

Round 1

Functionalism V.S.

Welfare Roles of Hong Kong Government

Functionalism V.S.

H.K. government welfare role

Explanation of Functionalism

Solidarity

Stability

Functionalism V.S.

Welfare role of H.K. GovernmentUsing Family Functions as an example

• Reproduction

• Physical

• Social

• Emotive

Functionalism V.S.

Welfare role of H.K. Government

• Cultural

• Economic

• Education

離婚統計數字

9000

10000

11000

12000

13000

14000

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

年度

發出

個案

離婚判令

資料來源： 1996 年中期人口統計，香港政府統計處 香港統計年刊， 2000 年版，香港特別行政區政府統計處

家庭住戶數字

1240000134000014400001540000164000017400001840000194000020400002140000

1981 1986 1991 1996 2001

年度

家庭

住戶

數目

家庭住戶數目

資料來源： 香港特別行政區政府統計處《 2001 年人口普查》

家庭住戶平均人數

33.13.23.33.43.53.63.73.83.9

4

1981 1986 1991 1996 2001年度

家庭

住戶

平均

人數

家庭住戶平均人數

資料來源： 香港特別行政區政府統計處《 2001 年人口普查》

Functionalism V.S.

Welfare role of H.K. GovernmentFamily system undergoing changes

Size of FamilyRoles of ParentsFamily breaking downLocation of Home

Functionalism V.S.

Welfare role of H.K. Government

Government Reaction Set up Family & Child CenterSet up Single Parent Center

Caritas Mutual Aid Center for Single Parent Families Hong Kong Single Parent Association West Kowloon Single

Parent Career Development Center

Functionalism V.S.

Welfare role of H.K. Government

Government reactionSet up Family Crisis Support CenterProvide Direct and Indirect Subsidy (Comprehensive Social Security Assistance,

9 years free of charge education)

Functionalism V.S.

Welfare role of H.K. Government

Purposes of Providing Welfare

Maintain Stability

Response to the Needs

Functions those Weakened

Functionalism V.S.

Welfare role of H.K. Government

Conclusion

Welfare is a tool!!!!

Round 2

Symbolic Interaction

V.S.Welfare Roles of Hong Kong

Government

Symbolic InteractionV.S. Welfare role of H.K.

government Explanation of Symbolic Interaction

• Focus on individual interactions in specific situations

• No absolute of right or wrong

• View society as products of everyday individual interactions

In the past

• Status: Men>>>Women– Women are seen as a property of men

• Education level: Lower– Less aware of the human right

So, accept being bitten up by husband and are ashamed of reporting!!

NOWADAYS

• Status: Men~Women– Women are more independent of men

• Education level: Higher– Greater awareness of human right

So, find spouse abuse unacceptable and willing to report!

Government’s Welfare Response

• Women Protection Ordinance

• Establishment of organizations for protection of women– HARMONY HOUSE ( 和諧之家 )

Round 3

Conflict Theory V.S.

Welfare Roles of Hong Kong Government

Conflict Theory V.S.

Welfare role of H.K. government

CAPITALISM

Free economic market (like wages system)

government intervention

Private market & property rights

Conflict Theory V.S.

Welfare role of H.K. government

Explanation of CONFLICT THEORY

Conflicts

Deprive

Unequal resources distribution

Conflict Theory V.S.

Welfare role of H.K. government

Under Capitalism, welfare system is to

Maintain the lives of the poor

Decrease social conflict

Release welfare gap

Ensure free market system

Conflict Theory V.S.

Welfare role of H.K. government

Example CSSA

QUESTIONS

Let’s image…..

Q1, What is an “Ideal Society”?

Q2, Are there any problems in the “Ideal Society” ? What are they ?

After the presentation of 3 sociological theories,which is the best to explain the welfare role of

H.K. Government ?

TO BE CONTINUE!

Part 2

Hong Kong Government

Hong Kong SAR Government

B 97 V.S. A 97

Economics 經濟Politics 政治Welfare 福利

ECONOMICS

B 97 V.S. A 97

Government and Business

Strength of Hong Kong EconomyMinimum government interventionClear legal environment……

Weakness of Hong Kong EconomyLack of government support………..

Government & Business

Before 1997Free trade policySupporter

e.g. infrastructure…..

Government and Business

After 1997Positive non-intervention Controller

e.g. Asian Financial Crisis, “ Housing policy”,..

Asian Financial Crisis ( 亞洲金融風暴 )

Government Intervention in Housing Market 政府對樓市的干預

Government Intervention

Good & Bad

Good!Protect the benefit of general

public

Government Intervention

BadPublic depends on the

government.

Then do you think government should intervene the market or not?

B 97 V.S. A 97

POLITICS

B 97 V.S. A 97POLITICS

JUDICIAL

INDEPENDENCE

INTERPRETATION

OF BASIC LAW

Disaster of Laws (Human Rights cannot be

protected)!On January 26, 1999, the Court of Final

Appeal delivered a judgment on the right of abode case ( 居港權事件 )

National People' s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) – 全國人民代表大會常務委員會

 NPCSC had offered explanations for some clauses in the Basic Law of the Hong Kong SAR on June 26, 1999 ( 人大釋法 )

 

The Election Mechanism of

Legislative Council

List system of proportional representation( 比例代表制 )

“first past the post" voting system( 得票最多者當選投票制 )

Accountability System (AS)(問責制 )

Carried out on July 2002. Number of Policy Bureau changed fr

om 16 to 11 (all assigned by Chief Executive)(行政長官任命 ) Plus Chief Secretary for Administration( 政務司司長 ),Financial Secretary( 財政司司長 )and Secretary for Justice( 律政司司長 ) .

Accountability System (AS)(問責制 )

14 Principal Officials (AS) responsible to Chief Executive

Only and not checked & balanced( 制衡 ) by Legislative Council( 立法局 )

Power of Government

Therefore :

• Power of Government after 97 is highly Centralization.

• Policy constitution is consensus and easy to execute

• While power of Government before 97 is relative weak

The Intervention of the SAR government in Welfare Policy

WELFARE

WELFARE

Change of Subsidies Method

The subvention model was Model Cost (MC) and Modified Standard

Cost (MSC) from 1981Repayment system was provided for

overpayments (Actual cost>Budget)

M.C. & M.S.C.

Problems of MC and MSC:

1. Inflexible ( 僵化 )

2. Complex ( 複雜 )

3. Bureaucratic ( 官僚 )

M.C. & M.S.C

M.C. & M.S.C.

Government Policy

To fix these problems, Social Welfare Department (SWD) launched the

“Lump Sum Grant subvention scheme ” and carried out

in December 2000

Lump Sum Grant subvention scheme(LSG)

Under the LSG• SWD will no longer staffing structures , levels

of pay and individual items of expenditure

• NGOs will be given flexibility in develop service.

• No any other external subvention will be given

Use of L.S.G AGREE & DISAGREE

AGREE:

1.Fixable

2.Meet the need of district and the user

3.Accelerate management Modernization of NGOs

Use of L.S.GAGREE & DISAGREE

DISAGREE• Layoff • Pay cut • Lack of Consultation

• Increase user burden

Service Performance Monitoring System (SPMS)

( 服務表現監察制度 )What is SPMS?A. Launched in 04/1999 by SWDB. To ensuring NGOs to manage public

resources effectively to meet performance standard

C. Major Components of the SPMS : 1.Service Quality Standard (SQS) and

2.Funding and Service Agreements (FSA)

編號 標準大要 編號 標準大要標準 1 服務資料 標準 9 安全的環境標準 2 檢討及修訂政策和程序 標準 10 申請和退出服務

標準 3 運作及活動紀錄 標準 11 評估服務使用者的需要

標準 4 職務及責任 標準 12 知情的選擇標準 5 人力資源 標準 13 私人財產標準 6 計劃、計估及收集意見 標準 14 私隱和保密標準 7 財政管理 標準 15 申訴標準 8 法律責任 標準 16 免受侵犯

Sixteen SQS standards (Chinese Version )

原則一︰資料提供 原則二︰ 服務管理 原則三︰為服務使用者提供服務

原則四 ︰尊重服務者使用的權利

Service Performance Monitoring System (SPMS)

( 服務表現監察制度 )

SQS: 服務質素標準 Define the policy procedures and practices

which a service unit should have in place.

Service Performance Monitoring System (SPMS)

( 服務表現監察制度 )

SQS: 服務質素標準Define the policy procedures and pract

ices which a service unit should have in place

Service Performance Monitoring System (SPMS)

( 服務表現監察制度 )

Four Principles in Sixteen Standards Principle 1.Provision of information 資料提供Principle 2.Service management 服務管理 Principle 3.Service to user

為使用者提供的服務Principle 4.Respect for service users right

尊重使用者的權利

Funding and Service Agreements (FSA)

( 津貼及服務協議 )

What is it? It includes the objective and nature of

service to be provided, the output indicators and funding arrangement.

Funding and Service Agreements (FSA)

Content of the agreement

1.Nature of service ( 服務定義 )

2.Performance standards ( 服務表現標準 )

3.Obligations of SWD to service operators

( 社署對服務提供者的責任 )

4.Basis of subvention ( 津貼的基準 )

Funding and Service Agreements (FSA)Content of the agreement

1.Nature of service ( 服務定義 )

2.Performance standards ( 服務表現標準 )

3.Obligations of SWD to service operators

( 社署對服務提供者的責任 )

4.Basis of subvention ( 津貼的基準 )

Government’s View

PRODCTIVITY ( 生產力 )

EFFICIENCY ( 高效能 )

ENTREPRENEURSHIP ( 企業化 )

Service Performance Monitoring System (SPMS)

( 服務表現監察制度 )COMMENT ON THE SPMS

STRENGTH( 優點 )

Quality Service

Measure service performance objectively WEAKNESS( 缺點 )

Too rely on Statistic

Increasing the workload of the worker

Competitive Bidding ( 競爭性投標 )

• Launched in 1999

• Attain efficiency and cost effectiveness in social welfare service

• Pilot test on meal service for the elderly Home care service

• Private sector also invited to bidding residential care services

Competitive Bidding ( 競爭性投標 )

CommentLack of evidence for bidding can cut

costs Private sector concerns profit DiscriminationInstability and Discontinuous

B 97 V.S. A 97CONCLUSION

Other than the above changes,SARS, Negative Equity Asset owner( 負資產 ), Reduce of CSSA( 削減綜

援 ),Legislation of Article 23( 廿三條立法 ),…..

As a result

B 97 V.S. A 97

Let’s imagine The Future of Hong Kong!

QUESTION &

ANSWER

Thanks for your attention