We propose also to examine more closely the wider-reaching pro- posals on social insurance for sickness benefit (27.8), although here I must confess that I see some formidable difficulties in devising a scheme which would not be susceptible to fraud or be impossibly expensive. In the Hong Kong context I have serious doubts also about the practicability of the proposal for social insurance for medical care (27.9) and about the general acceptability of the proposal for rial insurance for old age and survivorship benefit (27.10).
The Working Party finally recommends, as general aims for the future, social insurance for cash maternity benefit (27.13), invalidity benefit (27.14) and unemployment benefit (27.16) and the establishment of a redundancy fund (27.15). I cannot hold out much hope of our being able to implement such schemes in the foreseeable future. As regards public assistance (27.19), however, we are already reviewing current policy.
While, as I have said, we now intend to examine these proposals in turn in greater detail, I do not consider that such examination would be assisted by the appointment of a full-time commission (27.18) as the Working Party suggested. I am, on the other hand, fully in agreement with the proposal to set up a research unit to obtain further basic information upon which any schemes of this nature must surely be founded (27.20). I hope that it may be possible to obtain some specialist assistance in this field.
The Working Party may be thought to have strayed beyond its terms of reference in suggesting minimum wage legislation (27.21) especially when such a policy could well result in unemployment. I agree, however, with the final recommendation that public expendi- ture on social services should be reviewed (27.22).
Sir, I hope that this brief survey will indicate that there is much in this report which is valuable but that there is also much which lies at present outside our capabilities.
(STATEMENT BY THE HON. COLONIAL SECRETARY MADE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 10TH APRIL 1968)
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