5
PROPOSED EXPANSION OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME AND LABOUR CONDITIONS
The Governor in hs speech said it was proposed to extend the Public Assistance Scheme in the next financial year to make all able-bodied persons between 15 and 55 eligible for assistance.
He said that amendments would be introduced to the Employment Ordinance to provide for one rest day a v eek for workers next year in place of the present four days a
month.
HONG KONG DAILY NEWS (October 9) said that in a street poll conducted by the paper most blue-collar and white-collar workers welcomed the amendments to the Employment Ordinance.
"They feel that it is a good idea. The Government has in the past mainly concentrated on looking after the interest of the big business groups, and this time it is showing a real concern for the welfare of labour," the paper said.
SING TAO JIH PAO (October 7) and SING PAO (October 7) said the introduction of an expanded Public Assistance Scheme was "timely."
SING TAO said: "The question now is how to devise effective measures to prevent the abuse of the expanded scheme."
It said: "There are advantages and disadvantages to the unemployment relief system in Britain and the United States; and we hope HK will learn from their good points and avoid the pitfalls."
KUNG SHEUNG EVENING NEWS (October 6 & 10) said there was a need to set up an unemployment relief fund despite the expanded Public Assistance Scheme.
It said: "The expanded scheme is not a foolproof relief system, but is only a form.
of Government assistance to meet individual needs."
a slump.
The paper questioned how many people would really be entitled to assistance during
"It is the Government's responsibility to set up an unemployment fund, but so far
it has not taken any action on the matter," KUNG SHEUNG said.