Alleviating inter-generational poverty and encouraging able-bodied unemployed people to rejoin the work force will be the Commission on Poverty's focus in the coming six to nine months, Financial Secretary Henry Tang says.

After chairing the commission's second meeting today, he said for other disadvantaged groups, like the elderly, the relevant policy bureaux and departments will continue with their work under the existing policy framework. The commission will include them at the next stage.

Priority attention

Referring to an index developed by the Central Policy Unit to measure deprivation in local districts, the commission preliminarily considered that Yuen Long, Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong are the districts deserving priority attention. The commission will visit Sham Shui Po and Kwun Tong in the next two months. Members will also partake in fact-finding visits to other districts.

Members today discussed a paper prepared by the Economic Analysis & Business Facilitation Unit, which suggests compilation of poverty indicators for children and youth, working people and adults, older people and the community.

These indicators are measurable in a quantitative manner and are statistically robust. There are six broad categories of indicators - earnings-income support, education-training, employment, health, living conditions and community-family support.

Poverty indicators

Since earnings is the most relevant indicator, data related to the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance will be adopted in compiling poverty indicators for all social groups. They will be supplemented by data of other means-test schemes for public services. This is to ensure that non-CSSA low-income groups will also be accorded priority in provision of assistance.

Mr Tang said the poverty indicators discussed at the meeting are the commission's first step to understanding Hong Kong's poverty situation through a scientific approach, adding the Government will maintain an open mind in further study and discussion of the poverty indicators.

Members noted that in view of rapid social change and the gaps between different communities, the commission should formulate short-term and long-term work programmes to address the needs of disadvantaged groups.