LCQ10: Children and youth services
19.4.2023

Following is a question by the Hon Kenneth Leung and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (April 19): Question: Regarding Integrated Children and Youth Services Centres (ICYSCs) and Children and Youth Centres (CYCs), will the Government inform this Council: (1) of the average amount of funding received by each ICYSC and CYC in each of the past five years and the year-on-year rates of change of such figures, as well as the average staffing establishment of each centre and the year-on-year rates of change of such figures; (2) of the numbers of members of ICYSCs and CYCs in various District Council districts and, among them, the numbers and percentages of those aged six to 14 and those aged 15 to 24, and the percentages of such numbers in the numbers of persons in the same age groups in the same districts, in the past five years; (3) as the Youth Development Blueprint has mentioned that the authorities will review the youth welfare services funded on a recurrent basis by the Social Welfare Department, of the progress and timetable of the relevant work; whether the authorities will enhance the services of ICYSCs and CYCs, so as to tie in with the objectives set out in the Blueprint; if so, of the details, and whether they will consult relevant stakeholders; if not, the reasons for that; (4) whether the authorities have made requests regarding service themes or service focuses to ICYSCs and CYCs in various districts, so as to tie in with the Government's overall objectives for youth development, and made adjustments according to the demographic structure and service needs of the districts; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and (5) as there are views that ICYSCs and CYCs provide diversified and extensive services which involve guidance and counselling for children and youths, as well as support for the underprivileged families, and their activities have to keep up with the times according to the life and cultural patterns of children and youths, whether the authorities will comprehensively adjust the financial support, staffing establishment, and even the various output indicators in the Funding and Service Agreements with such centres, etc., thereby enabling such centres to provide services to children and youths in a more precise and in-depth manner? Reply: President, In consultation with the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau, the reply to the Member's question is as follows: (1) The average provisions allocated by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) to each Integrated Children and Youth Services Centre (ICYSC) and Children and Youth Centre (CYC) in the past five years are as follows : Year ICYSC ($million) CYC ($million) 2018-19 (actual expenditure) 7.98 (4.2% more than the previous year) 3.33 (no change as compared with the previous year) 2019-20 (actual expenditure) 8.36 (4.8% more than the previous year) 3.55 (6.6% more than the previous year) 2020-21 (actual expenditure) 8.40 (0.5% more than the previous year) 3.55 (no change as compared with the previous year) 2021-22 (actual expenditure) 8.37 (0.4% less than the previous year) 3.53 (0.6% less than the previous year) 2022-23 (revised estimate) 8.55 (2.2% more than the previous year) 3.61 (2.3% more than the previous year) The staffing establishment of ICYSC and CYC are set out at Annex 1 and 2 respectively. Under the Lump Sum Grant Subvention System, service operators may, subject to their compliance with the requirements of the Funding and Service Agreements, determine the establishment and remuneration in accordance with their own human resources policies, and flexibly deploy resources and employ staff to achieve the service output and effectiveness required. (2) The number of members in ICYSCs and CYCs as well as the proportion of children and youth members of the same age group broken down by 18 District Council districts in the past five years are set out in Annex 3. (3) The Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) will support the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) to review the youth welfare services funded by the SWD to ensure relevant services are in line with the objectives set out in the Youth Development Blueprint. In this connection, the HYAB and the LWB will maintain close communications and explore taking forward different projects in the SWD's ICYSCs and CYCs. (4) and (5) ICYSCs and CYCs deploy community resources to provide preventive, developmental, supportive and remedial services, with a view to meeting the multifarious welfare needs of children and youth aged six to 24 in specific catchment areas, particularly those coming from deprived families, with special needs and ethnic minorities. ICYSCs and CYCs assist children and youth to develop life skills, potentials and problem-solving ability, enhance their personal development, strengthen their interpersonal and family relationships, and build up social competence, in response to the crises and challenges encountered during their growth. In accordance with the Funding and Service Agreements, ICYSCs should set their priority of work according to community needs and collaborate strategically with stakeholders who may affect the welfare of children and youth. The SWD will also assess the service needs of ICYSCs and CYCs from time to time and discuss with the service operators when necessary.