HK to introduce low-income working family allowance

HONG KONG -- Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung said Wednesday that the city's government proposes the introduction a Low-income Working Family Allowance to help keep low-income families from falling into the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) safety net.

"Despite the protection offered by the statutory minimum wage, many grassroots workers, as the sole breadwinners of families, still bear a heavy financial burden. Providing them with suitable assistance and encouraging them to remain employed will help keep them from falling into the CSSA safety net."Leung said when delivering his second policy address.

He added that special attention must be paid to the children and youths of these families and offering them appropriate support promotes upward mobility and breaks the vicious cycle of inter- generational poverty.

Leung said the annual expenditure involved is estimated to be around 3 billion HK dollars (387 million US dollars). More than 200,000 low-income families with 710,000 members, including 180,000 eligible children and young people, will benefit from the allowance.

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