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■梁振英當選後，治理扶貧，並宣布成立扶貧委員會籌備工作小組。資料圖片
港府宣布重設扶貧委員會。重設的扶貧委員會成員社會涵蓋範圍廣，既有相關高層官員，也有立法會議員和商界、非政府機構、學者及來自基層的社工等不同階層人士。這既有利在討論、制訂政策時收集不同意見，使政策兼顧不同階層的利益和需要，亦有利與立法會建立良好溝通關係，使有關扶貧政策取得立法會的支持。扶貧問題是特首競選政綱的重要內容，如今將其轉化為具體施政措施，由政府最高層帶領推動，顯示政府高度重視貧窮問題，下決心、花力氣解決貧窮問題，這也是向消除本港深層次矛盾邁出的正確一步。
扶貧委員會不止是討論的平台，亦是行動平台。扶貧委員會下設兩個基金，一個是關愛基金，另一個是新設的社會創新及企業發展基金。關愛基金已經運作多時，按照「成熟一項推出一項」的原則，已經推出過十多個項目，不少貧窮人士受惠，今後還會推出更多項目。新設社會創新及企業發展基金則重點在於以較新的模式扶貧，例如扶助社企、鼓勵就業方面。由扶貧委員會直接統籌管理這兩個基金，在資源上給予支持配合，有利於將扶貧政策盡快落實到具體行動，更快見到扶貧的成效。
Poverty alleviation initiatives have to be strengthened to solve deep rooted contradictions
The HKSAR government has announced the reinstatement of the Commission on Poverty. The reinstated commission will comprise members from a wide social spectrum including relevant senior government officials, legislative councillors as well as representatives from the business sector, non-governmental organizations, academics and front-line social workers. The composition enables different views and opinions to be reflected in the discussion and policy-making process of the commission, which ensures that policies formulated can be geared to the interests and needs of various social strata. On the other hand, the make-up of the commission also facilitates a better communication with the Legislative Council, which helps to make sure that the relevant poverty alleviation policies can gain the support of the law-making body. Poverty alleviation was an important component of the Election Manifesto of the Chief Executive. Now, the pledge is turned into a concrete initiative implemented under the auspices of the most senior level of the government. This demonstrates that the government places great emphasis on the issue of poverty, and that it is determined and willing to make an effort to solve the poverty problem. It is a right move towards eliminating the deep rooted contradictions in Hong Kong.
The Commission on Poverty is not just a forum for discussion but also a platform for action. Two funds have been incorporated under the commission. One of them is the existing Community Care Fund, and the other is the new Social Innovation And Entrepreneurship Development Fund. The Community Care Fund has been in operation for many years and more than a dozen projects have been launched under the principle of "implementing initiatives as they are ready". These projects have already benefitted a considerable number of needy people, and in the days ahead, the fund will continue to roll out more and more projects. The newly set-up Social Innovation And Entrepreneurship Development Fund will focus on some newer models of poverty alleviation such as helping the social enterprises and encouraging employment. The Commission on Poverty will directly oversee and manage these two funds, supporting and working in collaboration with them through resource allocation. This will help expedite the implementation of poverty alleviation policies and make the effects of such policies be felt as early as possible.（節自十一月十日香港《文匯報》） ■Translation by Tung-ming [ tungming23@gmail.com ]
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