Govt Urged To Hand Out Cash To The Underprivileged

The Society for Community Organisation (SoCO) on Sunday said most people on low incomes would prefer a HK$10,000 cash budget handout to consumption vouchers.

Ninety percent of the approximately one thousand people, who took part in a SoCO survey, supported the idea.

The group's deputy director, Sze Lai-shan, said the money could be used by low-income families to settle their household bills.

"Many of them have difficulty in paying their rent, electricity and water bills, so they think it is more useful," she explained.

Ms Ting, who lives in a subdivided flat, said she was unable to make use of consumption vouchers in many instances.

"My landlord would not accept the vouchers as a way to pay rent. Also, how am I supposed to pay my son's university tuition fee in the mainland with those vouchers? That is why I hope the government can solve this problem by giving out cash," she added.

The society also urged the government to increase the annual amount for health care vouchers and provide short-term subsidies for the unemployed and underemployed.

It also suggested the government to set up a windfall tax for industries with high revenue, so more financial resources would be available to improve grassroots' livelihoods.