7
WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 1990
BE,
THE AS I HOPE
NEW "INNOVATIVE
WHITE PAPER WILL
THIS EXERCISE IS ESSENTIALLY DESIGNED TO BUILD ON THE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS ALREADY MADE IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE FIELD, PARTICULARLY OVER THE PAST DECADE, SHE ADDED.
H
HIS
MRS WONG REITERATED THE GOVERNOR'S REMARKS IN
ANNUAL NOT THE ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LAST OCTOBER THAT IT WAS ADMINISTRATION'S INTENTION TO DEVELOP A WESTERN-STYLE WELFARE STATE IN HONG KONG.
"HOWEVER,
WE DO
SOCIETY
HAVE AN IMPORTANT DUTY TO ENSURE THAT OUR WELFARE INFRASTRUCTURE IS RESPONSIVE TO THE CHANGING NEEDS OF
CATERS TO THE VULNERABLE AND IN PARTICULAR AMONGST US," SHE SAID.
OF
AND THE
DISADVANTAGED
FURTHER
PROGRESS
FACTORS
INCLUDING THE
SHE ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THE RATE AT WHICH BE MADE WOULD DEPEND ON A NUMBER AVAILABILITY OF TRAINED MANPOWER.
COULD
OF
"WE HAVE ARRANGEMENTS IN PLACE TO INCREASE THE OUTPUT OF SOCIAL YEARS WORK STUDENTS FROM OUR TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS OVER THE NEXT FEW
COMMISSION AND I HOPE THAT THE RECENT RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE STANDING ON CIVIL SERVICE
AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE WILL BE ASSISTANCE IN IMPROVING RETENTION AND REDUCING WASTAGE RATES OF SOCIAL MRS WONG WORKERS IN BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR, SAID.
"I
SALARIES
זי
SAID: THE FACT
TURNING TO THE PRESENT OLD AGE ALLOWANCE, THE SECRETARY BELIEVE THAT, AS A COMMUNITY, WE CAN TAKE SOME PRIDE IN
WHOLE SOCIAL SECURITY THAT
OLD AGE ALLOWANCE AND, INDEED, OUR THE SYSTEM, IS ENTIRELY NON-CONTRIBUTORY IN NATURE."
THE
"THIS WOULD NOT, HOWEVER, BE THE CASE IF THE CONVERSION OF
HAS SUGGESTED, OLD AGE ALLOWANCE TO OLD AGE PENSION, AS ONE MEMBER
THOSE OVERSEAS WERE TO BE PURSUED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE PRACTICE IN
SUCH A COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THE UNITED KINGDOM, WHERE THE AWARD OF
MADE BY THE RECIPIENTS DURING PENSION IS SUBJECT TO CONTRIBUTIONS THEIR WORKING LIVES," SHE SAID.
ON
THE OLD EXPRESSED ABOUT THE ADEQUACY THE DOUBT ALLOWANCE, MRS WONG POINTED OUT THAT THIS WAS DESIGNED TO ASSIST DEFRAYING THE ADDITIONAL EXPENSES ASSOCIATED WITH BEING ELDERLY.
AGE
IN
SUFFICIENT
"THOSE AMONGST OUR SENIOR CITIZENS WHO DO NOT HAVE
NOT RESOURCES OF THEIR OWN TO MAINTAIN A BASIC STANDARD OF LIVING ARE
AND ALLOWANCE
CAN OBTAIN EXPECTED TO RELY SOLELY ON THE OLD AGE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE UNDER OUR SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM," SHE SAID.
OF
OF
"THE ELDERLY IN OUR MIDST MAKE UP A SUBSTANTIAL PROPORTION THE BENEFICIARIES UNDER THIS SYSTEM, WHICH PROVIDES FOR A VARIETY GRANTS AND ALLOWANCES INCLUDING PAYMENTS THROUGH THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME
IN NEED OF AND THE AWARD OF DISABILITY ALLOWANCE TO THOSE CONSTANT CARE AND ATTENTION," SHE ADDED.
/"ELDERLY RECIPIENTS