Lesson 6 - Is it possible to reduce social welfare

expenditure?

8th December, 2010

Activity 4

Textbook p.30Discussion (5 minutes)Question 1 & 2

Question 1

1. Based on Fig.1, describe the trend (趨勢 ) of Hong Kong’s social welfare expenditure.

The social welfare expenditure in Hong Kong has been rising ( 上升 ).

It increased from about $24 billion in 1999/2000 to about $30 billion in 2007/08.

Question 2 (a)

2 (a) Based on Fig.2, which THREE types of people are the major CSSA recipients?

The elderly (53.4%)Single parents (12.7%)The unemployed (11.2%)

Question 2 (b)2 (b) Why do the above types of people

need CSSA?

The elderly have low abilities. They can hardly be employed. They cannot make an income (收入 ).

Single parents need to take care of their children. It is difficult for them to find jobs. They cannot make an income.

The unemployed have no jobs. They cannot earn any income.

Question 3 - Discussion

3. If the following problems worsen, in your view, what will be the impacts on the social welfare in Hong Kong? Explain.

(a) Ageing population (人口老化 )(b) Increasing divorce rate (離婚率 )(c) Economic recession (經濟不景氣 )

Question 3 (a)

3(a) Ageing population (人口老化 ):

Ageing population means that the number of elderly people keeps increasing.

The demand for elderly services will increase.

Government expenditure on Social Security Allowance Scheme (公共福利金計劃 ) and CSSA (綜援 ) will also increase.

Question 3 (b)

3(b) Increasing divorce rate (離婚率 ) :

An increasing divorce rate means that there are more single-parent families.

The demand for family and child welfare will increase.

Government expenditure on CSSA will also increase.

Question 3 (c)3(c) Economic recession ( 經濟不景氣 ) :

An economic recession will cause more people to be unemployed (失業 ).

Government expenditure on CSSA will increase.

What are the problems of social welfare in Hong Kong regarding retirement scheme (退休

保障 )?

Video about the problems of Old Age Allowance (高齡津貼 /生果金 )

http://lib-nt2.hkbu.edu.hk/hkbutube/vod.asp?bibno=b2221062

From the video…- Lack of retirement scheme in Hong Kong - Old Age Allowance cannot support the daily expenditure of

the elderly

Next lesson…

Next lesson will be the last lesson with 1E in my teaching period.

10th December, 2010 (Friday)

Please bring your textbook

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