Three more children's homes announced as $56m budget boosts staff

To meet the growing demand for child care, the government has allocated over HK$56 million since last October to hire more staff and enhance services, Under Secretary for Labor and Welfare Ho Kai-ming said.

Speaking during a Legislative Council subcommittee meeting on policies monitoring child protection agencies, Ho yesterday said three new residential care homes for children will be built in the Eastern District of Hong Kong Island this year. These homes will provide an additional 30 places for child care services and 100 places for foster care services, ensuring that more children receive the support they need.

In addition to residential care homes, the government is also planning to establish a new residential child care center in Tuen Mun next year.

"The government will also increase service quotas at residential child care centers and children's reception centers through the Special Scheme on Privately Owned Sites for Welfare Uses," he said.

Ho said the government also increased incentive payments for foster families since April last year, while providing extra support and training to those taking care of children with special educational needs.

In the same meeting, Ho told lawmakers that a review of residential child care and related services was already done, with the government "progressively implementing" recommended improvements.

"The government has allocated over HK$56.7 million to residential child care services since last October for hiring more staff. Each employee will take care of five children on average compared to 6.2 on average previously," Ho said.

"Annual funding will be increased to HK$80 million per year starting from 2024/25 onwards to continue improving staff ratio, increasing frontline staff, introducing professional assistance and increasing service places," he added.

Social welfare sector lawmaker Tik Chi-yuen was skeptical of the additional funding, citing industry veterans as saying it is difficult to recruit staff members, especially experienced ones.

Ho admitted that he is aware of the difficulties employing full-time carers. He said: "At elderly care homes, we have quite a number of part-time positions. We will continue looking into possibilities to set up part-time positions for child care services."

Election committee lawmaker Peter Koon Ho-ming asked if the government could look into getting foreign domestic helpers to help.

Although Ho said it would be challenging due to legal constraints, his bureau will look into it alongside the Immigration Department and Social Welfare Department in the future.