14
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1988
AT PRESENT, THE APPROVAL OF EARLY PAYMENT OF A DEFERRED PENSION APPLIED BOTH TO THE COMMUTED PENSION GRATUITY AND TO THE REDUCED MONTHLY PENSION.
"HOWEVER, THERE MAY
BE CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH WARRANT EARLY PAYMENT OF THE GRATUITY ONLY; FOR EXAMPLE, EXTREME FINANCIAL HARDSHIP ON THE PART OF THE PENSIONER, SIR DAVID EXPLAINED.
IT
"CLAUSE 5 THEREFORE AMENDS THE PENSION BENEFITS ORDINANCE TO ALLOW THIS FLEXIBILITY."
SIR DAVID NOTED THAT SECTION 31 (2) OF THE PENSION BENEFITS ORDINANCE INADVERTENTLY IMPOSED A LIMITATION ON THE AMOUNT OF DEDUCTIONS WHICH COULD BE MADE FROM AN OFFICER'S PENSION BENEFITS FOR THE RECOVERY OF DEBTS DUE TO THE GOVERNMENT, EVEN THOUGH THE OFFICER CONCERNED MIGHT HAVE CONSENTED TO LARGER DEDUCTIONS.
"THE ORIGINAL INTENTION WAS THAT THERE SHOULD DEDUCTIONS, AT 25 PER CENT OF PENSION BENEFITS, OFFICER DOES NOT CONSENT," HE SAID.
BE A LIMIT ON ONLY WHERE THE
"THE LEGISLATION IN ITS EXISTING FORM HAS CAUSED PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES TO THE GOVERNMENT IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE CIVIL SERVICE HOUSING LOAN AND DOWN PAYMENT LOAN SCHEMES.
"
CLAUSE 7 OF THE BILL THEREFORE SOUGHT TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION AND CLAUSE 8 EFFECTED A SIMILAR AMENDMENT TO SECTION 12 OF THE PENSIONS ORDINANCE TO COVER ARRANGEMENTS UNDER THE OLD PENSION SCHEME, HE SAID.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
PURPOSES OF SAFETY COUNCIL EXPLAINED
THE PROPOSED OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL WILL ENCOURAGE GREATER INVOLVEMENT AND PARTICIPATION BY INDUSTRY AND THE COMMUNITY IN RAISING THE STANDARDS OF SAFETY AND HEALTH AT WORK, ONLY IN INDUSTRY BUT IN ALL AREAS OF EMPLOYMENT.
NOT
THIS WAS SAID BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON DOMINIC WONG, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL BILL 1988.
MR WONG SAID THE COUNCIL WOULD BE AN INDEPENDENT BODY CONSISTING OF A CHAIRMAN AND UP TO 20 MEMBERS, REPRESENTING EMPLOYERS, EMPLOYEES AND THE GOVERNMENT.
"PROFESSIONAL AND