WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1987
33
ADMINISTRATION BLAMED FOR LACK OF FORESIGHT
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THE GOVERNMENT WAS BLAMED FOR NOT ONLY FAILING TO ACCEPT BUT ALSO IGNORING THE VIEWS AND ADVICE EXPRESSED IN THE 1967 +REPORT BY THE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING PARTY TO CONSIDER CERTAIN ASPECTS OF SOCIAL SECURITY+ AS WELL AS THE RECOMMENDATIONS PUT FORWARD BY EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVES DURING DISCUSSIONS ON THE +GREEN PAPER ON SOCIAL SECURITY DEVELOPMENT 1977+.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE HON PANG CHUN-HOT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND (CPF).
HE POINTED OUT THAT MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING EMPLOYERS, WERE FULLY AWARE THAT THE SECURITY OF AGED WORKERS AFTER RETIREMENT WAS ACTUALLY A SOCIAL PROBLEM WHICH NEEDED AN URGENT SOLUTION.
HE ADDED THAT A CONSENSUS OF OPINION, INCLUDING VIEWS OF MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S AD HOC GROUP TO PREPARE FOR THE DEBATE, HAD ALREADY BEEN REACHED.
MR PANG SAID SINCE THE ISSUE OF WHETHER A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED WAS BROUGHT UP, THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED HAD BEEN USING DELAYING AND PERFUNCTORY TACTICS.
HE SAID THE SETTING UP OF TWO INTERNAL WORKING GROUPS BY THE GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM AND TO EXPLORE WAYS TO ENCOURAGE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PRIVATE RETIREMENT SCHEMES WAS APPARENTLY AN ATTEMPT TO THWART THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CPF AND COMPLETELY BETRAYED THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION TO SHIRK ITS RESPONSIBILITY.
THE CURRENT ATTITUDE AND POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT TOWARDS THE CPF FULLY CONFIRMED THE FORESIGHT AND ADMONISHMENT CONTAINED IN THE 1967 REPORT.
+IT WOULD THEN AVAIL NOTHING TO LAMENT THE FACT THAT FORESIGHT HAD NOT PREVAILED A FEW YEARS EARLIER, HE SAID.
MR PANG CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO FACE REALITY RESOLUTELY BY ADOPTING A FAIR AND POSITIVE APPROACH TOWARDS THE CPF, AND BY SETTING UP A SPECIAL COMMISSION TO STUDY THE CPF AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
MR PANG REITERATED THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATIVES ON THE +GREEN PAPER ON SOCIAL SECURITY DEVELOPMENT+ IN 1977.
THEY PROPOSED THAT CONTRIBUTIONS TO A LIFE INSURANCE SCHEME FOR EMPLOYEES MUST BE COMPULSORY, SO THAT ALL EMPLOYEES UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE COULD PARTICIPATE, AND THAT THE AMOUNT OF CONTRIBUTION MUST BE RAISED TO FIVE PER CENT.
/HE SAID