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currently being canvassed by some elected urban councillors (electing the entire Urban Council on an extended franchise and introducing an elective element into the Legislative Council) is not necessarily the right answer (the low public esteem enjoyed by most elected urban councillors at present is one drawback). There could be a case for electing more local bodies, and introducing elections into some functional bodies. But it will be essential to proceed
with caution.
THE SOCIAL FIELD
14. The Hong Kong Government have made impressive advances in the past ten years, particularly in housing and education. Existing plans covering the period up to 1984-5 will ensure that progress is maintained. But there are still notable gaps, partieu- larly in the field of social security: there is, for example, no unemployment benefit as such; old age benefits are very small and available only to those over 70; and there are no pensions for widows. At our urging the Hong Kong Government have considered the merits of a contributory social insurance sabem as a means of remedying these deficiencies (which are at present met to some extent by the public assistance scheme funded from general revenue), but are doubtful whether this is the best way to proceed. There could be problems of public acceptability, particularly as regards unemploy- ment benefit (the Hong Kong Government's view that need rather than entitlement should be the criterion for public assistance reflects There a fairly wide spectrum of Chinese and expatriate opinion). are also administrative complications. In addition, it has been argued strongly that the political uncertainty about the future of Hong Kong would make it impossible to include provision for pensions
This point in any contributory scheme which was also compulsory. in particular will need re-examination if the problem of the New Territories leases is resolved in a satisfactory way.
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