8
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1979
+THIS IS PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE RELATIVELY FEW OPPORTUNITIES REMAINING FOR OBVIOUS SIMPLE LAND PRODUCTION SCHEMES OUTSIDE THE MAIN DEVELOPMENT AREAS.
+BUT IT IS ALSO BECAUSE OF THE CURRENT STRAIN ON THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND, INDEED, THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE OF THE MAJOR DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES WHICH BOTH GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR ARE UNDERTAKING ALREADY.+
FINALLY, MR. JONES SAID THAT DURING 1979 HE HOPED TO PRESENT FIVE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BILLS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
+WE WILL ALSO BE EXPANDING THE STAFF OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION UNIT,+ HE SAID.
MR. JONES PAID TRIBUTE TO THOSE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHO HAD ASSISTED IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION.
+WITH THE IR ASSISTANCE WE HOPE IN THE YEARS TO COME TO MAKE HONG KONG A CLEANER, LESS NOISY AND BETTER PLACE IN WHICH TO LIVE.+
SOCIAL WELFARE WHITE PAPER EXPECTED
TO BE PUBLISHED BEFORE END OF MONTH
*****
SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON. E.P. HO, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE SOCIAL WELFARE WHITE PAPER IS EXPECTED TO BE PUBLISHED BEFORE THE END OF THIS MONTH.
SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON THE APPROPRIATION BILL, MR. HO SAID THE PROPOSALS ON RETIREMENT BENEFIT CONTAINED IN THE 1977 GREEN PAPER HAD STIMULATED A LIVELY DEBATE. APART FROM THE CONTRIBUTORY SCHEME, ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF ACHIEVING ITS AIMS OF PROVIDING COVER AGAINST THE RISKS OF EXTENDED PERIODS OF SICKNESS OR INJURY, DEATH AND RETIREMENT WERE ALSO DISCUSSED.
+ THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISES THE DESIRABILITY OF PROVIDING SOME FORM OF COVER FOR THESE RISKS, BUT HAS NOT YET REACHED A CONCLUSION ON THE BEST WAY OF DOING SO,+ MR. HO SAID.
HE SAID ONE OF THE MAJOR PROBLEMS CONNECTED WITH INTRODUCING ANY FORM OF CONTRIBUTORY SYSTEM WOULD BE THE NEED TO ENSURE THAT IT WAS COMPATIBLE WITH THE EXISTING SCHEMES OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE.
+ANOTHER RELEVANT FACTOR IS THE APPARENT LACK OF PUBLIC INTEREST IN INSURANCE+ HE SAID.
/EE SAID