Anomalies and Issues in Welfare Pluralism: Financing Residential Care for the Elderly in Hong Kong

This article looks at the anomalies and issues in welfare pluralism from the case of financing residential care for the elderly in Hong Kong. It examines a number of policies on the provision of social welfare services in relation to comprehensiveness, relative standards, respective public-private roles and the principle of need. A number of unintended effects and policy dislocations are identified. Also, the reasons underlying the limits to privatization of this service at a comparable quality standard and an affordable price are addressed. The conclusion is that the present arrangements for related provisions are less than rational and equitable.