Policy Address

122.     The Elderly Commission is pressing ahead with the formulation of the Elderly Services Programme Plan and intends to submit a report in mid-2016.  Besides, the Government has injected $50 million into the Elder Academy Development Foundation.

Human Resources in Care Services

123.     Last year, I announced that the Government had earmarked funding to introduce a "first-hire-then-train" Navigation Scheme for Young Persons in Care Services to provide 1 000 places in the coming few years.  The Scheme aims to encourage young people to join the workforce of elderly and rehabilitation care services.  Enrolment is expected to open in the second half of this year.

Healthcare Services

124.     The annual voucher amount under the Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme was doubled to $2,000 last year.  The number of elderly people using the vouchers increased to 640 000, with an annual expenditure of some $550 million.  The CCF will expand its Elderly Dental Assistance Programme progressively in the second half of 2015 to cover elderly persons who are OALA recipients, starting with those aged 80 and above in the first phase involving about 130 000 elderly people.

Contents | Next