-4C. The CSSA scheme C.1 The nature and purpose of CSSA 9. The CSSA scheme is a non-contributory, means-tested social security scheme. It is administered by the Social Welfare Department (“SWD”) and is non-statutory. The Government describes it as “a means-tested safety-net benefit designed to ensure that people with limited or no other sources of income have sufficient money to meet their basic needs.”5 It aims in particular to provide “a safety net for individuals or families who are unable to support themselves financially because of age, disability, illness, low earnings, unemployment or family circumstances.”6 As Mr Cheung Doi-ching,7 giving evidence on the Government’s 10. behalf, explains, the basic needs “include food, clothing, fuel and light, rent and schooling expenses for children ...” The Director sets a level of income which represents the amount required to meet these essential needs and: “The difference between the total assessable monthly income of a family and its total monthly needs as recognised under the Scheme in terms of various types of payment will be the amount of assistance payable.”8 C.2 11. The evolution of the residence requirement At the end of World War II, with China in the throes of a civil war, Hong Kong experienced a massive influx of refugees which brought the postwar population of about 600,000 in 1945 up to 1,600,000 at the end of 1946. 5 Legco Brief, 3 June 2003, HWF CR/3/4821/99(03) Pt 7, §3. 6 Ibid, Annex C, §1. 7 Principal Assistant Secretary for Labour and Welfare (Welfare) 4 of the Labour and Welfare Bureau, Affirmation 8 January 2009 (“Mr Cheung’s Affirmation”), §16. 8 Legco Brief, 3 June 2003, Annex C, §5.