Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ12: Services provided to low-income families and women

     Following is a question by the Hon Frederick Fung and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (February 2):

 

Question:

 

     Regarding the services provided by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) and non-governmental organizations to low- income families and women, will the Government inform this Council of:

 

(a)    the usage rates of the day nurseries and creches subvented by SWD in the past three years, and the usage of such services by low-income families, including the number of persons who received financial assistance through the Fee Assistance Scheme for Child Care Centres and the total amount of assistance granted;

 

(b)    the number of persons participating in the subsidized After School Care Programme in the past three years and, among them, the percentage of those from low-income families, as well as the respective numbers of participants who were granted full fee and half fee remission; and

 

(c)    the total number of participants in the Capacity Building Mileage Programme jointly launched by the Women's Commission and other organizations in March 2004 and, among them, the percentage of low-income women?

 

Reply:

 

Madam President,

 

(a)    At present, there are 952 subsidized day creches places and 28,661 subsidized day nurseries places across the territory. With the continuous drop in children population, the average usage rates of the day creches and day nurseries now stand only at 84 per cent and 83 per cent respectively. The low-income families which are unable to take care of their children at daytime for employment or other social reasons may apply for the means-tested "Child Care Centre Fee Assistance Scheme" (the Scheme). Eligible applicants may be granted partial or full fee remission. In 2003-04, among users of the services provided by day creches and day nurseries, those receiving assistance through the Scheme accounted for 77 per cent and 54 per cent respectively. The number of recipients and the expenditure of the Scheme in the past three years are shown in Annex 1.

 

(b)    Regarding the number of persons participating in the subsidized After School Care Programme in the past three years and, among them, the percentage of those from low-income families, as well as the respective numbers of participants who were granted full fee and half fee remission, please refer to Annex 2.

 

(c) The Capacity Building Mileage Programme (CBMP), which is open to all, has been delivered in a flexible mode, primarily delivered through radio broadcasting, and supplemented by optional learning activities and face-to-face courses organized by collaborating non-governmental organisations. The radio courses are free of charge while the tuition fees for face-to-face courses and supplementary learning activities are set at an affordable level. Scholarship and study grant are also available for needy applicants.

As at December 2004, a total of 12 radio courses and 3 face-to-face courses were conducted. There were so far a total of 3,480 enrolments in the courses (of which 3,410 were female), which exceeded the pre-set target of 2,100. However, we have no information on the income level of the students. In addition, a large network of audience has listened to the relevant radio programme delivered through radio broadcasting.
 

Ends/Wednesday, February 2, 2005

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