WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 1987
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ESTABLISHMENT OF PROVIDENT FUND PRACTICABLE
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THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND WAS PRACTICABLE AND ESSENTIAL. THE HON SZETO WAH TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING DURING THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND, MR SZETO SAID THAT TO PROVIDE FOR LIVELIHOOD OF RETIRED OLD PEOPLE WAS NOT JUST A KIND OF MORALITY, BUT IT WAS ALSO FOR THE SAKE OF RAISING A BETTER YOUNGER GENERATION.
HE SAID: IF THERE IS NO SYSTEM IN THE SOCIETY TO TAKE CARE OF THE ELDER GENERATION, THE RESPONSIBILITY WILL NATURALLY FALL ON THE YOUNGER GENERATION IN THE FAMILY.
+THEN THEY WILL BE OBLIGED TO SHOULDER THE DOUBLE BURDEN OF TAKING CARE OF THE OLD AS WELL AS THE YOUNG, AND WILL INEVITABLY AFFECT THEIR CARE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
+ IF THE SOCIETY CAN BUILD UP A SYSTEM TO SHARE THEIR RESPONSIBILITY OF LOOKING AFTER THE ELDER GENERATION, THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO CONCENTRATE ON LOOKING AFTER AND RAISING A BETTER NEXT GENERATION.+
MR SZETO SAID AT PRESENT THERE WERE TWO MAJOR RIVAL CAMPS ONE IN FAVOUR OF AND ONE AGAINST THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND.
HE WARNED THAT A FLAT REJECTION OR A PROMPT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROPOSAL WOULD LIKEWISE AGGRAVATE ANTAGONISM BETWEEN THE TWO CAMPS.
BUT HE FELT THE TWO RIVAL CAMPS WERE NOT WITHOUT POINTS IN COMMON, THERE WAS BUT A LACK OF COMMUNICATION.
+IF THE SPIRIT OF CONSULTATION COULD BE FULLY EXPLOITED AND THE MATTER IS DELIBERATED IN DETAIL, THESE TWO CAMPS WILL GRADUALLY REDUCE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THEM AND JOIN HANDS TO ESTABLISH A SECURITY SCHEME FOR RETIRED OLD PEOPLE, MR SZETO SAID.
FOR THE PURPOSE OF BETTER COMMUNICATION, DEVELOPING A SPIRIT OF CONSULTATION AND DETAILED DELIBERATION, HE SAID HE SUPPORTED THE PROPOSAL TO SET UP A COMMISSION WHICH WOULD INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE GOVERNMENT, EMPLOYERS, EMPLOYEES AND VARIOUS PROFESSIONALS.
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