The Government has no plan to adjust the rates further for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients, Director of Social Welfare Paul Tang says.

Speaking on a radio talk show this morning, Mr Tang said the target of the department was to step up self-reliance measures to tackle the rising demand of social security need.

He said the Government will be careful in considering any rate adjustment, as the decision will create controversy.

CSSA recipients aim for self-reliance

It is the Government's objective to support the recipients' will for self-reliance, he said, adding that the department will step up measures to enable them to re-enter the workforce.

Noting that the $17 billion set aside for social security purposes is not enough, he said the Government must ask the Legislative Council to approve more funding to meet the demand.

He pointed out that as the economy bounced back, the total number of CSSA cases dropped last month.

When asked whether the system has been abused, Mr Tang said he did not believe so, adding that number of cases of abuse accounts for less than 10% of the total.