WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1983
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PENSIONS ADJUSTED
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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED MOTIONS TO INCREASE BY NINE PER CENT PENSIONS IN PAYMENT ON APRIL 1, 1983. THE INCREASE IS ESTIMATED TO COST $37.8 MILLION FOR A FULL YEAR.
MOVING THE MOTIONS, THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, THE HON MARTIN ROWLANDS, SAID IT WAS THE GOVERNMENT'S DECLARED POLICY TO MAINTAIN THE ORIGINAL PURCHASING POWER OF CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONS, INCLUDING PENSIONS PAYABLE UNDER THE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS PENSION SCHEME AND UNDER THE WIDOWS' AND CHILDREN'S PENSION SCHEME.
HE SAID THIS WAS ACHIEVED BY PERIODIC PENSION ADJUSTMENTS TO REFLECT CHANGES IN THE COST OF LIVING.
DURING THE LATEST REVIEW PERIOD FROM APRIL 1, 1982 TO MARCH 31, 1983, HE SAID, THE MOVING ANNUAL AVERAGE OF THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A) ROSÉ BY 11.6 POINTS OR 9.55 PER CENT.
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EXEMPTION FOR DISABLED DRIVERS WELCOMED ****
THE PROPOSAL TO EXEMPT DISABLED DRIVERS FROM PAYING FIRST REGISTRATION TAX UNDER THE MOTOR VEHICLES (FIRST REGISTRATION TAX) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, WAS WELCOMED BY DR THE HON HARRY FANG, UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY.
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE MOTION, DR FANG POINTED OUT THAT SOME 400 DISABLED PERSONS WOULD BENEFIT FROM THE MEASURE.
HE ADDED, HOWEVER, THAT MANY MORE DISABLED PEOPLE IN HONG KONG WERE STILL HAVING PROBLEMS IN THEIR DAILY JOURNEYS TO SCHOOLS, TO WORK, AND TO OTHER SOCIAL EVENTS+.
SAID.
SOME MORE COMPREHENSIVE ARRANGEMENTS WERE NEEDED, DR FANG
BUT HE WAS GLAD TO REPORT FROM HIS WORK WITH THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT COORDINATING COMMITTEE THAT, AS A FIRST STEP, A SURVEY ON THE SPECIAL TRANSPORT NEEDS OF THE DISABLED HAD BEEN PLANNED, HE SAID.
+I AM SURE IT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY SPEEDY REMEDIAL ACTIONS IF AND WHEN SHORTFALLS IN PROVISIONS WERE IDENTIFIED, + DR FANG SAID.
HE WAS ALSO GLAD TO NOTE THAT THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON KEN TOPLEY, IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL ON APRIL 27, QUOTED FROM THE REHABILITATION INTERNATIONAL'S CHARTER FOR THE 80'S, TO REAFFIRM GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT IN THE INTEGRATION OF DISABLED PEOPLE INTO THE COMMUNITY, DR FANG SAID.
+THIS GOES TO SHOW THAT HONG KONG IS, AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE, EVEN BY WORLD STANDARDS, A CARING SOCIETY, HE CONCLUDED.
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