Financial Secretary John Tsang proposes measures to tackle the challenges brought by an ageing population in the 2015-16 Budget today.
He will allocate $130 million to strengthen childcare services, to help women achieve a work-family balance; and extend the coverage of on-the-job training allowance under the Employment Programme for the Middle-aged to encourage the employment of older persons to take up part-time jobs.
The Employees Retraining Board will also focus on providing training for older people, among other target groups, and help them re-join the job market.
He proposes to earmark $220 million to extend the Integrated Employment Assistance Programme for Self-reliance for two years, to encourage employable able-bodied Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients to secure employment and achieve self-reliance.
To cater for the long-term demand for healthcare services, the Government is developing a hospital in the Kai Tak Development Area, Tin Shui Wai Hospital and Hong Kong Children’s Hospital, redeveloping Kwong Wah Hospital and Queen Mary Hospital, and expanding United Christian Hospital. These projects will provide a total of 2,800 additional beds, with the works estimated to cost $81 billion.
Mr Tsang added that irrespective of the community’s choice for the way forward on the issue of retirement protection, $50 billion will be set aside for this purpose as there is a consensus to provide better protection for senior citizens in need.
