HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL 11 January 1989
香港立法局 ————一九八九年一月十一日
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social security schemes, including the phased extension of the old age allowance to persons in the 65-69 age group. One element of this proposed package was that all new applicants for the old age allowance should be required to declare that their income and assets did not exceed specified levels.
These proposals were generally welcomed by Members of this Council and by the Social Welfare Advisory Committee amongst others. However, following consideration of views expressed against the proposed income and asset declaration, particularly for those over 70 years old, the Government decided that it would be appropriate not to proceed with the declaration for new applicants aged over 70, whilst retaining it for those between 65 and 69.
The first phase of the extension of the allowance to the 65-69 age group was implemented on 1 September 1988 and persons aged 68 and 69 are now eligible, subject to a declaration that their income and assets do not exceed the following levels :
Monthly Income
Assets
Single person
$1,700
Married couple
$2,800
$100,000
$150,000
With effect from 1 April 1989, eligibility will be extended to those aged 67 whilst those aged 66 and 65 will become eligible with effect from April 1990 and 1991 respectively.
The requirement for an income and asset declaration by applicants for the allowance aged 65-69, who were not previously eligible, is considered both reasonable and also consistent with the Government's overall welfare policy of providing assistance to those most in need and there are currently no plans to dispense with the declaration for this age group.
Advanced Level Examinations available in Chinese and English
12. MR. DAVID CHEUNG asked: Will the Administration inform this Council of the progress made since Government accepted in principle last year the Education Commission's recommendation that Advanced Level Examinations should be available in Chinese as well as in English; and whether the target date for introducing these examinations can be advanced and, if so, what the financial implications will be?