Policy Address

170. The earnest efforts of the current-term Government on poverty alleviation, elderly care and support for the disadvantaged are reflected in the rise in expenditure. This year, estimated recurrent government expenditure on social welfare is $66.2 billion, a 55% increase over the level four years ago. Our on-going efforts have borne fruit. The poor population in 2015 stood at 970 000, i.e. below 1 million for the third consecutive year, with the poverty rate of working households hitting a record low since statistics were compiled in 2009. The selfreliance spirit of our people is encouraging: the number of unemployment cases under the CSSA Scheme has decreased for 87 consecutive months to a 20-year low, with a drop of about 70% from its peak.

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