For the purpose of paragraph 18 the definition of dependency applicable to the Emergency Relief Fund (ERF) and Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation (CLEIC) schemesis proposed: viz
(i) those family members, however distant, who are
living under the same family roof and are financially dependant on the deceased; and
(ii)
those family members, usually close family members, not living under the family roof but have been financially dependant on the deceased and can show this to be so.
Retirement Benefits
20
The retirement benefit was not central to the SID scheme floated in the Green Paper. In any case, experience with the Singapore Provident Fund which as from 1st July 1980 attracted a total contribution of 38% of wages over $$363 p. m., inclusive of 18% from the employee, has shown that most workers there prfeer to mortgage their retirement entitlement to acquire a family home. One of Government's objectives in introducing the Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) here is to facilitate the acquisition of long-term security through owner-occupied property. In the course of time and through expansion of the HOS, it is anticipated that Hong Kong can attain the same goal as Singapore through different means.
21
At a time of relatively high inflation and extraordinary interest rates it is difficult to visualise employees being attracted by a retirement scheme to which they would have to contribute even if there was a modest Government contribution towards the Fund's administration expenses. Furthermore, the Government's possible contribution here would appear to be better utilised on maximum support for the HOS.
The Self-employed
22
The proposals here involve the imposition of legal obligations on employers to provide for their employees. This means that the self- employed should have to provide for themselves. However, there are bound to be pleas that the self-employed small traders (e.g. hawkers) are not well-off, and it may be desirable to include them for benefits under paragraph 18(b).
Consultation
23
The Social Welfare Advisory Committee and the Labour Advisory Board were consulted. They generally supported the current proposals outlined in paragraphs 15-18 although SWAC members favoured a wider
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