18
Wednesday, August 16, 1972
EQUATING PENSIONS FOR MEN AND WOMEN
The Acting Colonial Secretary, the Hon. S.T. Kidd, said today
the sanction of the Secretary of State was being sought on the Pensions
(Amendment) Regulations 1972.
He said when this was obtained, regulations would be submitted
to the Governor-in-Council to be formally made and then to the Legislative
Council for approval
He was speaking in the Legislative Council while moving the second
reading of the Pensions (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 1972.
The Bill seeks to equate the pension rights of male and female
officers by abolition of the marriage bar.
Speaking in support of the Bill, the Hon. Mrs. Mlen Li suggested that
three points of principle be reconsidered either now or at a later occasion.
She said the qualification that a spouse receiving pension benefits
should be of "good character" was superfluous and could be deleted.
As regards the requirement for proof of "dependency" for claims
of pension benefits, Mrs. Li said she did not see the logic in it.
"We are considering the principles of 'rights' and 'entitlement'
and not about the question of financial need or a means test."
The third point concerns maternity leave for women officers. She
drew Government's attention to the "anomaly" and "inconsistency" in the
policies regarding over-generous allowance of maternity leaves for low-grade
staff and none for higher grade staff.
/Also