Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun on Friday said the move to increase the monthly allowance to caregivers from low-income families by HK$300 showed that government aimed to channel resources to those most in need.

In announcing his Policy Address on Wednesday, Chief Executive John Lee outlined a series of measures to support caregivers, including raising the monthly allowance for low-income caregivers of the elderly and persons with disabilities by 10 percent to HK$3,300.

Speaking after a radio programme, Sun stressed the government had to operate within strict financial constraints.

“In fact, every extra dollar helps in some way," he said.

"Of course, the government must act within its capabilities. Resources are limited, but under these constraints, we hope to prioritise our help for low-income caregivers.”

The Policy Address also outlined plans to launch a mobile version of the JoyYou Card by the end of 2026 to give seniors the option of enjoying the “HK$2 flat rate or 80 percent discount” concession without needing to carry a physical card around.

Sun said the rollout would take place in phases, noting that the first step involves replacing existing cards to ensure all 2.7 million eligible residents hold a personalised JoyYou Card with a profile photo under real-name registration.

He said cards would remain an available option after the mobile card's launch, noting that some seniors may not feel comfortable using a smartphone.

On the use of technology to support an ageing society, Sun noted that his bureau had chosen 300 single-elderly or elderly-only households for a trial scheme to test two types of assistive technology – one designed to detect sudden falls and the other to automatically alert emergency assistance.

If the technologies prove suitable for use in Hong Kong, the government will look to expand the scheme to more elderly households, he added.



Edited by Tony Sabine