remission system, to assist parents in meeting the fees charged.
1978/79, the Government intends to introduce free junior secondary education in forms I-III in the public sector.
3.16
Help with other school expenditure (e.g. uniforms and books) may be provided by the Government (through textbook grants by the Education Department and through the public assistance scheme) or by voluntary agencies.
3.17
In addition, there are several funds which provide similar aid. In particular, the Grantham Scholarships Fund, the Hong Kong Rotary Club Students' Loan Fund, and the Li Po Chun Charitable Trust Fund provide aid through the Education Department for students who are in need of financial help.
3.18
Housing. Public housing is provided by the Housing Authority, primarily for low income families whose present accommodation is unsatis- factory and for families displaced by Government development schemes. The existence of public housing, let at low rents to these families, is the most substantial element of the social wage in Hong Kong, benefitting over two fifths of the population.
Social security : occupational benefits provided by employers
3.19 Legislative provisions. The Employment Ordinance deals with sickness allowance, severance payments and paid holidays. The Workmen's Compensation Ordinance covers workmen's compensation. Sickness allowance is two thirds of normal wages, payable at the rate of one paid sickness day for each completed month of employment up to a maximum of 36 days. Severance pay is half a month's pay (or 13 days pay for a daily paid worker) for each year of service up to a maximum of the last 12 months earnings (with a maximum of 8 years service before August 23, 1974 counting in the calculation) Workmen's compensation provides for a lump sum to be paid if a workmen is injured or dies as a result of an accident arising out of and in the course of his employment. The amount of the payment varies with the seriousness of the injury.
3.20 Voluntary provisions. Employers may also provide other financial benefits, including retirement benefits, help with medical and educational expenses, death in service benefits and paid maternity leave. In particular, the coverage of retirement benefit schemes has been growing and over 1,000 schemes have been approved for tax purposes. Some employers also provide indirect financial aid, such as medical facilities, free or subsidised meals, transport and accommodation. There are tax concessions, designed to encourage the development of retirement benefit schemes.
Relationship of indirect and direct financial aid
3.21 The various types of indirect financial aid, especially the social wage, are of great value to many families. But such help is essentially a supplement to, not a substitute for, an effective system of social security cash payments. While, therefore, there may be scope for encouraging the development of occupational benefit schemes (see Chapter 7), and while the importance of the social wage should not be underestimated, the Government
9