Among the focuses of the new Policy Address delivered by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu last week is the promotion of a caring and inclusive society, with measures covering poverty alleviation, elderly care, caregiver support, rehabilitation for people with disabilities, mental health, and fertility encouragement, which will not only address the problems caused by an aging population and pressures on less-well-off families, but also build a caring society that is conducive to sustainable development.
First, the targeted poverty alleviation strategy aims to tackle intergenerational poverty by sustaining youth growth and breaking poverty cycles. Measures adopted include: An injection of HK$180 million ($23.2 million) into the Child Development Fund to optimize programs, providing education and skills training for underprivileged children, which is expected to benefit thousands of families; adding six Community Living Rooms, which serve as hubs linking resources and services, to strengthen grassroots support; optimizing the School-based AfterSchool Care Service Scheme, to remove enrollment caps, allowing more low-income families access to safe child care and easing parental burdens; launching the Co-build a Caring Society Funding Scheme, to encourage family offices to support philanthropy, benefiting vulnerable communities (this public-private partnership amplifies social capital); providing, on a pilot basis, time-limited cash incentives for households leaving the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme and eligible for Working Family Allowance Scheme to promote self-reliance; and the “Report on Impact of Targeted Poverty Alleviation Strategy in Hong Kong”, slated for mid-2026, to review and refine strategies. These measures address root causes beyond symptoms, embodying the government’s commitment to social mobility.
READ MORE: Lee pledges to boost economy, livelihoods in his 4th Policy Address
Second, the strategy targeting elderly care responds to the needs of an aging society. Notable measures include the provision of around 700 new subsidized residential care places for the elderly, as well as an increase of 4,000 Community Care Service Vouchers for the Elderly and 1,000 Residential Care Service Vouchers for the Elderly. These measures expand the capacity of community and residential care services and will help reduce the waiting time for subsidized elderly care. Besides, adding three Neighborhood Elderly Centers offers more daytime activities and health checks for elderly residents and promotes “aging in place”. Expanding the Residential Care Services Scheme in Guangdong by raising the number of residential care homes for the elderly participating in the program from 15 to 24 with a wider coverage of mainland cities within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area offers elderly people more choices on cross-boundary elderly care. Some of the measures also integrate closely with healthcare, such as subsidizing rehabilitation aids via vouchers to prevent chronic disease progression and ease medical loads.
Third, caregiver support is another highlight. HK$500 million will be allocated annually in recurrent expenditures for a series of measures, including progressively linking more government and public entity data to expand the Carer Support Data Platform for better resource-matching. Installing intelligent accident detection systems in 300 high-risk households will enable timely emergency responses, safeguarding caregivers and care recipients. This recognizes caregivers’ physical and mental strains, using data and technology to lighten family loads and balance work with care.
Fourth, support for people needing rehabilitation emphasizes practicality. The government will collaborate with university teams to develop guidelines for consumers of rehabilitation products, aiding seniors, people with disabilities, and caregivers in selecting suitable items to avoid waste and boost efficacy. The government will also strengthen rehabilitation services by adding 450 places across categories, covering physical, occupational, and speech therapy, which are expected to benefit over 1,000 service recipients. These measures prioritize prevention and rehabilitation, aligning with my medical experience: Early intervention markedly improves independence and cuts long-term healthcare costs.
Fifth, mental health, a societal imperative, has also attracted the government’s attention. A Three-Tier School-based Emergency Mechanism will be established in secondary schools and extended to Primary 4 to 6 students for early stress identification in students. Funding specialized training via a subsidy program for welfare NGOs will enhance school social workers’ capacity to handle youth mental health issues. Promoting community mental health through the 4Rs Mental Health Charter for schools and workplaces covers education and employment. Launching the Pilot Program on Training for Mental Health Promotion Ambassadors mobilizes and trains ambassadors to advocate healthy lifestyles, build resilience, and construct supportive companionship networks. The Department of Health will update guidelines to mitigate social media’s impact on children and youth, and more institutions will proactively promote campus mental health in universities. These cross-sectoral efforts, starting from education, align with medical prevention models, and will help prevent crises, fostering a resilient society.
ALSO READ: New Policy Address focuses on improving executive capability
Finally, fertility encouragement tackles low birth rates. Additional child allowances for newborns will be provided for the first two years from the 2026-27 tax year, easing the financial pressure on families with a newborn child. Over three years, 15 new aided child care centers will be set up to provide about 1,500 day care service places for children up to 3 years old, addressing child care shortages. The Hospital Authority will increase assisted reproduction service quotas to 1,500, expanding support for infertile couples. Beyond fiscal incentives, these measures that strengthen child care and medical foundations are expected to boost fertility willingness and mitigate demographic imbalances.
Overall, the Policy Address’ social welfare strategy demonstrates the government’s forward vision, building caring networks through precise resource allocation and public-private collaboration. I believe these will effectively counter the aging and poverty challenges, promoting social harmony. As a physician, I witness welfare-health interdependence: A robust welfare system sustains universal health. The successful implementation of these measures will help build a more inclusive society.
The author is founding convenor of Hong Kong Global Youth Professional Advocacy Action, a specialist in radiology, and an adviser of the Our Hong Kong Foundation.
The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
