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■行政長官曾蔭權在施政報告提出，以涵蓋全港的「鼓勵就業交通津貼計劃」取代現時局限4區的交通費支援計劃。 資料圖片
政府統計處數據顯示，今年上半年的貧窮率為18.1%，破紀錄有126萬人生活於貧窮線以下，短短半年間貧窮人口增加6.4萬人。貧窮問題已成為本港社會的一大頑疾，但港府卻一直缺乏全盤的扶貧政策。新的施政報告應全面規劃扶貧工作，並將重點放在援助在職貧窮方面，一是將交通津貼擴大至全港，二是為低薪人士提供直接的入息補貼。
當局過去傾向採取一次性的紓困措施，以免加大經常性開支的壓力。然而，當局在07年至今的「派糖」開支已高達1,000億元，各階層普遍受惠，但最需要援助的在職貧窮人士卻受惠不足，當局必須有更長遠的措施支援貧窮人士。
本港可參考其他國家及地區的經驗，為低收入人士提供入息補貼，若市民的收入低於一定水平，政府便直接提供一筆固定的補助金。此建議簡單清晰，能夠直接資助在職貧窮人士。實際上，這建議鼓勵市民通過工作脫離貧窮，更可提升人力資源質素，社會效益遠大於支出。
此外，目前的交通津貼計劃只局限在元朗、屯門、離島及北區的低收入人士，受惠人數不多。事實上，本港交通費用高昂，交通津貼有助減輕在職貧窮人士的交通開支，值得作為一項長遠扶貧的措施推行。儘管措施會加大政府的經常性開支，但卻可減少在職貧窮人士跌落綜援網，反而可減輕整體綜援開支。
Subsidize the working poor by expanding transport allowance
According to the data of the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department, the poverty rate in the first half of this year was 18.1%, with a record-breaking 1.26 million people living below the poverty line. In just six months' time, the poor population has increased by 64,000. Poverty is now a major chronic 'disease' in Hong Kong; however, the government has so far not yet formulated a comprehensive poverty alleviation policy to tackle the problem. The forthcoming policy address should include a thorough plan for alleviating poverty and focus on helping the working poor. On one hand, the coverage of transport allowance can be expanded to the entire territory, and on the other hand, low income earners should be given direct income support.
The government had inclined in the past to provide one-off relief so that the pressure on recurrent expenditure would not be built up. Since 2007, the money spent on "giving sweeteners" has reached HK$100 billion and the money was given to all walks of life without differentiation. The working poor who were the most deprived, however, were not given enough help. The authorities must put in place some longer term measures to support the poor sector of the population.
Hong Kong can learn from the experience of other countries and regions; and help the poor by giving income support to low income earners. The government can directly give to people who earn an income below a certain level, a fixed amount of cash support. Such a measure is simple and straightforward and is able to give immediate help to the working poor. In fact, this measure encourages people to rid themselves of poverty through employment, thus also enhancing the quality of human resources. The social benefits gained will be far greater than the expenses incurred.
Besides, not many people can benefit from the transport allowance currently available as it is restricted to low income earners living in Yuen Long, Tuen Mun, Islands and the North districts. As the cost of transport in Hong Kong is very high, the transport allowance can render substantial help to the working poor by reducing their travel expenses. It should be implemented as a long term poverty alleviation measure. Even though such a measure might lead to an increase in the recurrent expenditure of the government, it can lower the number of working poor who may fall into the comprehensive social security assistance scheme. It is in fact a way to reduce the overall expenditure incurred by the social assistance scheme. ■translation by開明 chi.ming818@gmail.com
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