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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1979
BENEFITS FOR EX-PRISONERS OF WAR
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FORMER PRISONERS OF WAR ARE ENTITLED TO ALL PUBLIC SERVICES, AND TO THE SAME SOCIAL SECURITY, HEALTH AND WELFARE BENEFITS, AS ANY OTHER RESIDENTS OF HONG KONG.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE HON. E.P. HO, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON, LYDIA DUNN.
MR. HO SAID VOLUNTEER PRISONERS OF WAR WHO HAD BEEN DISABLED IN ACTION OR CAPTIVITY, AND THE DEPENDANTS OF THOSE WHO DIED IN CAPTIVITY OR SUBSEQUENTLY BECAUSE OF THEIR INJURIES, ARE ENTITLED TO PENSIONS UNDER THE ROYAL WARRANTS BY VIRTUE OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE VOLUNTEER AND NAVAL VOLUNTEER PENSIONS ORDINANCE.
+THE CURRENT RATE OF PENSION TO A WIDOW OR TO A VOLUNTEER WHO IS CLASSIFIED AS 100 PER CENT DISABLED IS 25.30 POUND STERLING A WEEK. THERE IS ALSO PROVISION FOR AGE, DEPENDANTS, RENT AND EDUCATION ALLOWANCES. THE AVERAGE CURRENT RATE OF PAYMENT IS ABOUT 25 POUND STERLING A WEEK.+
MR. HO SAID PRISONERS OF WAR WHO CAME WITHIN THE AMBIT OF THE FIRST SCHEDULE TO THE HONG KONG WAR MEMORIAL FUND ORDINANCE AND ARE IN NEED, INCLUDING THOSE WHO DO NOT QUALIFY FOR PENSIONS UNDER THE ROYAL WARRANTS. ARE ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THIS FUND. +THE CURRENT RATE OF GRANT APPROVED BY THE WAR MEMORIAL FUND COMMITTEE IS UP TO $870 A MONTH FOR EACH ELIGIBLE ADULT.
CHILDREN'S AND EDUCATION ALLOWANCES ARE ALSO PAYABLE WHERE DUE,+ HE ADDED.
MR. HO POINTED OUT THAT SINCE JULY 1977 PRISONERS OF WAR WHO COME WITHIN THE AMBIT OF THE FIRST SCHEDULE TO THE HONG KONG WAR MEMORIAL FUND ORDINANCE, AND ARE RESIDENT IN HONG KONG, HAVE BEEN ENTITLED TO FREE MEDICAL TREATMENT AT GOVERNMENT CLINICS AND HOSPITALS.
A SIGNIFICANT FEATURE OF THIS SCHEME IS THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR FREE TREATMENT IN FIRST AND SECOND CLASS BEDS AT GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS, WHEN AVAILABLE, AT AN INCLUSIVE MAINTENANCE CHARGE OF $35 A DAY AND $25 A DAY, RESPECTIVELY.
MR. HO SAID OTHER FAR EAST PRISONERS OF WAR MAY APPLY TO THE WAR MEMORIAL FUND COMMITTEE FOR ASSISTANCE UNDER THE FAR EASTERN RELIEF FUND, EVEN THOUGH THE INITIAL 3 000 POUND STERLING GRANT FROM THE LORD MAYOR'S FUND AND SUBSEQUENT ALLOCATIONS THERETO FROM LOCAL SOURCES HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED.
+THE REASON FOR THIS IS THAT THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THIS COUNCIL HAS VOTED THE NECESSARY MONEYS TO KEEP THE FUND IN BEING. ACCORDINGLY, IF A NEW CASE COMES TO NOTICE, INCLUDING THAT OF A FORMER PRISONER OF WAR, AND THE WAR MEMORIAL FUND COMMITTEE CONSIDERS HIM WORTHY OF ASSISTANCE, THE GOVERNMENT WILL BE PREPARED TO CONSIDER INVITING THE FINANCE COMMITTEE TO VOTE THE APPROPRIATE GRANTS ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS, MR. HO SAID.
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