SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1983
+THE HANDLING OF COMPLAINTS LODGED BY THE PUBLIC IN RESPECT OF SOCIAL SECURITY HAS CONTINUED TO REMAIN AS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT ROLES OF THE BOARD, THE REPORT SAYS.
THE COMPLAINTS DO NOT ALL BECOME APPEALS BECAUSE THE PROBLEMS OF SOME COMPLAINANTS MAY BE SOLVED AFTER THE STAFF OF THE BOARD HAVE TAKEN APPROPRIATE ACTION.
DURING THE YEAR, 137 COMPLAINTS WERE LODGED AT THE OFFICE OF THE BOARD, A 33 PER CENT INCREASE OVER THE PRECEDING YEAR.
OF THESE, 63 WERE REGARDED AS SETTLED, THREE WERE REFERRED TO THE APPROPRIATE OFFICES FOR ATTENTION AND 71 EVENTUALLY BECAME APPEALS.
DURING THE YEAR, THE BOARD MADE SOME SUGGESTIONS TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WITH THE AIM OF IMPROVING SOCIAL SECURITY SERVICES.
THE SUGGESTIONS RELATE TO THE CALCULATION AND RECOVERY OF OVERPAYMENT, THE TREATMENT OF APPLICATIONS BY REFERRAL, AND EFFORTS TO TRACE THE APPLICANTS BEFORE CASES ARE CLOSED.
WELCOMING THESE SUGGESTIONS, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID, WE WILL CERTAINLY CONTINUE TO STRIVE FOR
IMPROVEMENTS+.
THE SOCIAL SECURITY APPEAL BOARD, AN INDEPENDENT BODY ESTABLISHED IN APRIL 1978, RECEIVES APPEALS FROM SOCIAL SECURITY APPLICANTS AND RECIPIENTS AGAINST DECISIONS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IN RESPECT OF ELIGIBILITY AND PAYMENT.
THE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ARE ALL UNOFFICIALS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR. THE CURRENT CHAIRMAN IS MR CHIU CHUN- BONG, J.P.
AMENDMENTS TO DEBTORS BILL
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DETAILS OF AMENDMENTS PROPOSED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO THE DEBTORS (ARREST AND IMPRISONMENT) BILL 1983 WERE RELEASED TODAY.
IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THIS BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON DECEMBER 7, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, MR MICHAEL THOMAS SAID THAT HE WAS CONSIDERING AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL, TO BE MOVED AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE ON DECEMBER 21.
ONE AMENDMENT WILL ENABLE THE COURTS TO MAKE AN ORDER PROHIBITING THE DEBTOR FROM LEAVING HONG KONG. THIS ORDER WILL, UNLESS RENEWED, LAPSE ON THE EXPIRY OF ONE MONTH. IF THE DEBTOR ATTEMPTS TO LEAVE HONG KONG IN CONTRAVENTION OF THE ORDER, HE MAY BE ARRESTED IF THIS IS NECESSARY TO PREVENT HIS DEPARTURE.
/ANOTHER AMENDMENT