Special arrangements for subvented welfare services and services of Social Welfare Department after Chinese New Year holidays

     The Government has announced that special work arrangement for government departments will be implemented after the Chinese New Year holidays (starting from January 29) in order to reduce the risk of the spread of the novel coronavirus in the community and has appealed to private sector organisations to make similar arrangements as far as practicable.

     In the light of the aforementioned arrangement, the Social Welfare Department (SWD) today (January 28) revised the arrangements for the welfare services subsidised by the SWD after the Chinese New Year holidays as follows:

(1) All aided child care centres, day care centres for the elderly, sheltered workshops, integrated vocational rehabilitation services centres and day activity centres will suspend their service delivery. These centres will, however, remain open to serve those in need. Members of the public who have the need for the services mentioned may contact the centres or service units concerned in advance;

(2) Apart from (a) below which is provided on a full scale, the other services will be provided on a limited scale:

a. All residential care services;
b. Integrated Family Service Centres (only providing casework service);
c. Integrated Services Centres (only providing casework service);
d. Short-term Food Assistance Service;
e. Integrated Home Care Services (only providing meals, escort, nursing and administration of medicine services);
f. Enhanced Home and Community Care Services (only providing meals, escort, nursing and administration of medicine services);
g. Home Care Service for Persons with Severe Disabilities (only providing escort, nursing and administration of medicine services);
h. Integrated Support Service for Persons with Severe Physical Disabilities (only providing escort, nursing and administration of medicine services);
i. Visiting Medical Practitioner Service for Residential Care Homes;
j. Hotline services; and
k. Humanitarian Assistance for Non-refoulement Claimants.

(3) For other services not covered by (1) and (2) above, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) operating them may decide whether to continue to provide them under their respective Funding and Service Agreements having regard to their circumstances.
 
     These arrangements should continue until February 17 unless amended earlier. NGOs should keep their clients informed of their specific arrangements.
      
     Regarding the SWD's own services, some services from tomorrow (January 29) onwards will only be provided on a limited scale until February 17 unless amended earlier. Members of the public may call hotline number 2343 2255 for enquiries.