A woman wearing a face mask as a precaution against the COVID-19 walks on a bridge in Hong Kong, Thursday, Feb 27, 2020. (KIN CHEUNG/AP)
HONG KONG - Low income new immigrants will be entitled to the government’s proposed HK$10,000 (US$1,285) cash handout through the Community Care Fund designated to alleviate poverty, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Law Chi-kwong said on Tuesday.
The move came after the government announced last Wednesday that it would dole out HK$10,000 for every adult permanent resident, with no means test.
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Welfare secretary Law Chi-kong said the HK$10,000 cash handout would now be extended to cover new immigrants who have lived in the city for less than seven years, regardless of nationality
Speaking at a local media program, Law said the benefit would now be extended to new immigrants who have lived in the city for less than seven years, regardless of nationality, including those coming in the city for family reunion. A means test will be put in place for it. Overseas students and imported workers will not be covered by the extension scheme, he added.
In 2011, the government handed out HK$6,000 to every adult permanent resident. For low-income non-permanent residents, it injected HK$1.5 billion to the poverty relief fund to pay the same amount. Eligible residents were subject to a means test that capped the monthly income to HK$7,300.
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Foreign domestic helpers and those admitted for employment, education or investment were also excluded.
