58
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Wednesday, March 29, 1972
A family of five who had been getting #132 a month in December 1970
would be getting as from April 1 this year $370 plus a higher amount of up
to $68 for rent as well as additions for schooling expenses, essential travel
and special needs, he added.
"Of course, Government is not now going to sit back and say that
nothing more needs to be done for the elderly and the disabled or for other
categories of people in need."
Although the public assistance scheme had gone a long way in a short
time, nevertheless, he did not think Hong Kong should be satisfied with what
had been achieved so far though there was no comparable scheme in the region,
with the exception of Japan, he added.
Look Ahead
He assured Members that Government accepted the need to look ahead
and see what the future needs of the elderly would be.
"For this reason, a working party including members of Government
departments and of voluntary agencies concerned are already at work, and I
look forward to seeing their proposals," he said.
He reminded Members that the problems associated with geriatrics were
worldwide, and that no nation had yet found a satisfactory and all-embracing
solution.
"Nevertheless we are, a young community and this is a challenge that we
are perhaps in a better position to meet than most administrations,"
/Referring