Chief Executive-designate Lee Ka-chao promised in his "Election Platform" to strengthen ties with regional organizations to enhance the effectiveness of regional governance. He proposed to set up a volunteer network of "regional service and care teams" in all 18 districts in Hong Kong, hoping to systematically support the government's regional work. For example, caring for the elderly and the weak, dealing with disasters.
This is reminiscent of some familiar community support networks.
However, because the Hong Kong government has always been accustomed to relying on social groups of different natures to fill the insufficiency of social services on its own, these official-led or subsidized regional services have long been under resourced.
For example, in the 1970s, the Neighborhood Level Community Development Program (NLCDP)—a government-funded non-governmental organization based on established service standards, in some poor or temporary communities where social welfare services and facilities were relatively backward and lacking, provided Local residents provide relevant services and promote the spirit of mutual help.
In its heyday, there were 54 NLCDP teams in Hong Kong.
However, the size of the NLCDP has been slashed as the number of poor communities has dwindled as tha houses have been demolished.
According to the NLCDP list published on the SWD website, there are currently only 17 teams in Hong Kong, which are located in 10 of the 18 districts.
Another familiar community support network is the Mutual Aid Committee Scheme (Mutual Committee) under the "District Administration Scheme" implemented in the 1980s to encourage residents to participate in district affairs. Cleaning and general management matters, aimed at promoting neighborly relations, developing a spirit of mutual help, and enhancing communication between the government and residents.
Around 2010, there were as many as 2,700 mutual committees in Hong Kong, and there are now more than 1,600.
However, at the beginning of this year, the Home Affairs Office sent a letter to all the mutual committees, pointing out that the functions of the mutual committees were declining day by day, and asked them to dissolve in batches.
The government could have put these community support networks to good use, but...
For details, please read the 322nd issue of "Hong Kong 01" Electronic Weekly Newsletter (June 20, 2022)
"There seems to be no cultural community support network that lacks the strength of the linkage area"
.
To read the full text, please
click here
to preview the e-weekly report for more in-depth reports.
Community Governance 1 | When a small government meets a big society - Hong Kong's community organization is weak?
Community Governance・2|Fighting the Epidemic by Feeling the Stone
Wu Kunlian, vice-chairman of foreign affairs of the Community Development Front, said that the government has greatly reduced the NLCDP team, and it seems that it wants to merge community resources into comprehensive services to cut expenses.
In fact, the establishment of a community network and the improvement of residents' spontaneity and initiative in solving problems can help reduce government expenditure. This is also the direction and value of community work itself.
(Photo by Chen Weici)