Read TWF's views on this year's Policy Address

Commentators have gone to town pointing out the number of references to One Belt and One Road in last week's Policy Address by Chief Executive, CY Leung and criticising the Address for being too macro in parts and too micro in others - the installation of non slip tiles in public toilets being a case in point.

While the Policy Address did little to address fundamental issues such as the crisis of confidence among the public over “one country, two systems”, escalating cross-border conflicts and partisan gridlock in the legislature, there were a few bright spots in relation to women's issues and care for the elderly and disadvantaged. 

In particular, the Government pledged to increase the resources available to victims of domestic violence and families in need. At TWF, we hope this goes hand in hand with public education and programmes to prevent violence occurring in the first place.

The Government also launched a scheme to increase the number of fresh graduates entering the care services and welfare sector while pledging to invest in subsidised residences for the elderly and improving the quality of elderly services. 

The Government also announced that "to help unleash the working potential of women", 1,200 additional places of extended hours service in child care centres for children aged below six will be made available and resources allocated to over 300 aided stand-alone child care centres and occasional child care service units. 

Finally, the Government announced a pilot scheme to encourage NGOs in the social welfare sector to refer to the Government's Gender Mainstreaming Checklist when formulating policies and programmes following "the extensive application to their work of the Gender Mainstreaming Checklist by government bureaux and departments". We are heartened to hear that the Administration is seriously taking gender considerations into account when formulating major policies and programmes but - who knew?! We would welcome greater transparency and consultation by the Government with women's NGOs and other associations to ensure its gender assumptions are valid and truly reflect community needs.

19
01
2016

Written by

The Women's Foundation