Rehabilitation and welfare restructuring in East Asia: deciphering an assessment tool for people with disabilities in Hong Kong

Abstract

While many East Asian economies have in the past witnessed the coexistence of economic growth and modern welfare provisions, this has no longer been the case since the Asian Financial Crisis. This article is an attempt to unravel the latent policy objectives behind an assessment tool for residential services ostensibly aimed at rationalizing residential services for people with physical and/or mental disabilities in Hong Kong. The central argument is that such a policy instrument, whilst appearing technocratic and professional in policy discourse, nonetheless fails to hide its true purpose of implementation – the rationalization of welfare resources within a cutback environment. Moreover, in screening out people with disabilities, the new Assessment Tool further perpetuates a rehabilitation service rooted in paternalism and traditionalism, a service which sees those affected by disabilities as dependent and helpless, and which moves ever further away from the ideals of inclusion, dignity and independent living.