Press Releases

Glasses subsidy for CSSA children in need

     The Government would provide additional financial assistance to individual Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme families who have difficulty in affording glasses expenses for their children.

     The Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, said in a letter to the Legislative Council Subcommittee to study the subject of combating poverty today (December 16).

     "We believe the existing CSSA rates can satisfy the basic needs of the majority of the CSSA families, including glasses for their children. But for individual families who may have difficulties in purchasing glasses for their children, we should provide extra assistance to these families.

     "The Director of Social Welfare would exercise his discretion under the CSSA to assist children in need to purchase glasses having regard to the situation of each family," Dr Chow said.

     Children in need will be granted a subsidy of not more than $500 each. CSSA families who have difficulty in purchasing glasses for their children may approach their case workers in the Social Security Field Unit. If schools come across any students who are in financial difficulty but are in need of glasses, they may refer them to the Social Welfare Department (SWD) for follow up.

     The CSSA has taken care of the special needs of children, through providing a higher standard rate, as well as special grants related to study such as school fees, meal allowance, subsidy for transport expenses and subsidy for examination fees.

     Dr Chow said the Government had outlined the arrangements for children on CSSA in a report to United Nations Convention on the Right of the Child in 2003.

     "We are of the view that the existing CSSA arrangements for children are in line with the Convention," he said.

     Dr Chow also said in the letter that he learned that some members of the Legislative Council had raised 2,000 optical frames and they were now actively seeking lenses and optical cases and free optometrical services for the children.

     "We welcome their caring move and will study how to make the best use of community resources to render suitable arrangements for CSSA children.

     "Staff of SWD have contacted the concerned members of the Legislative Council to facilitate the early allocation of glasses to children in need," Dr Chow said.

Ends/Thursday, December 16, 2004

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