(b)
Pensions
2
Pensions
are now a right under the pensions legislation. Both the Joint Declaration and
and the Basic Law contain very clear assurances about the continued payment of pensions after 1997. There is no
reason to believe that this undertaking will not be honoured by the future SARG. Pension payments represent only a very small percentage of recurrent expenditure, and the Hong Kong Government has every confidence that all pension payments can be met both now and in the future. Nonetheless, in response to staff requests, the Hong Kong Government has been exploring whether there are other ways to provide civil servants with a higher degree of security of pensions. While full funding of pensions has been ruled out because of the massive sum involved, consideration is being given to other possibilities, namely partial funding of pensions, higher commutation of pensions and a provident fund scheme. However, each of these measures has considerable financial implications and will need to be carefully assessed in the light of the Hong Kong Government's financial situation.
(c)
(i)
Departmental Quarters
The Government's policy is to provide quarters for junior married rank-and-file staff and local married officers up to the rank of Superintendent of Police or equivalent. Priority is given to the Police So that their requirements can be met earlier than, but not to the exclusion of, those of
other disciplined services. Implementation of the policy is subject to the availability of resources.
the
As regards the provision of Departmental Quarters for the officer cadre of the Immigration Department, there is at present a shortfall of 536 units (or 83% of total requirement).
To redress this imbalance, the Government intends to purchase a number of flats in the private sector for Immigration Department officers as part of an overall purchase of disciplined services quarters.
number
The exact
for Immigration Departmental officers has yet to be decided.