MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 1994
SWAC CHAIRMAN, MR ERIC LI, SAID MEMBERS FULLY PRINCIPLE
THERE WERE SOME AND SPIRIT OF OPS. HOWEVER, ITS PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS.
SUPPORTED CONCERNS
THE OVER
WHICH
MR LI SAID THE PRINCIPLE OF COLLECTIVE SOCIAL INSURANCE
AND THE YOUNG REQUIRED THE MORE AFFLUENT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY
THE ELDERLY PEOPLE TO SHOULDER GREATER FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR AND THE NEEDY WAS LAUDABLE.
BUT SOME MEMBERS FELT THAT IT WAS
TO CONCEPT
THE OF
CLEARLY FOREIGN
TRADITIONAL
OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG WHERE THE VALUES SAVING AND LOOKING AFTER THE FAMILY WAS PERVASIVE.
THIS LESS MAKE GREATER
HE SAID MEMBERS WOULD EXPECT INITIAL RESISTANCE TO TRADITIONAL CONCEPT, ADDING THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD EFFORTS TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC.
ALSO HELP IF THE
GOVERNMENT COULD
PROVIDE
MORE
"IT WOULD SUBSTANTIVE INFORMATION FOR HONG KONG PEOPLE TO PICK WHICH IS THE BEST OF THE PROPOSED FOUR OPTIONS," MR LI SAID.
THE FOUR OPTIONS ARE:
* MAINTAIN THE PRESENT VOLUNTARY APPROACH;
* AMEND THE PROPOSED SYSTEM LISTED IN THE CONSULTATION PAPER BY
INCORPORATING SOME FORM OF GUARANTEE AGAINST LOSSES;
* INTRODUCE A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND (CPF); AND
* INTRODUCE AN OLD-AGE PENSION SCHEME.
SOME MEMBERS POINTED OUT THAT WITHOUT CLEARLY DEFINING BENEFITS ELDERLY PEOPLE MIGHT STILL WISH TO MAINTAIN THEIR CHOICE, MR LI SAID.
ON THE PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF THE SCHEME, MR LI SAID SOME MEMBERS
THE RISK AND
FUTURE WERE
ABOUT CONCERNED
THE POSSIBLE POLITICAL
YOUNG FINANCIAL BURDEN ON THE GOVERNMENT, THE BUSINESS SECTOR AND THE PEOPLE.
POPULATION DIFFICULT
H
SCHEME,
HE
"SOME MEMBERS
ELDERLY WERE CONCERNED THAT AS THE GROWS ITS POLITICAL INFLUENCE WILL ALSO INCREASE, MAKING IT TO RESIST ADDED.
SUGGESTIONS OF IMPROVEMENT MADE TO ANY
THE
THE COMMITTEE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS IN THE FEASIBILITY STUDY AND IN PARTICULAR, TO DRAW LESSONS FROM OVERSEAS
EXPERIENCES.
THE ADMINISTRATION HAD ALSO AGREED TO SWAC's FURTHER BRIEFING ON THE FEASIBILITY REPORT UPON ITS RELEASE.
REQUEST FOR
OF
AT THE MEETING, MEMBERS WERE ALSO BRIEFED ON THE SETTING UP
HELD ITS FIRST A WORKING GROUP ON CARE FOR THE ELDERLY WHICH HAD MEETING ON NOVEMBER 29 LAST YEAR.
THE WORKING
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