TUESDAY, MARCH 29, 1994
15
SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS GIVEN OUT ON TIME
* *
IN RESPONSE TO PRESS ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE POSSIBLE DELAY IN SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS CAUSED BY A COMPUTERISATION SYSTEM, A SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN CONFIRMED THAT CUSTOMERS WOULD BE GETTING THEIR MONEY ON TIME.
HE SAID WITH THE IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE SYSTEM ON APRIL PAYMENTS WOULD BE GIVEN TO SOME 90,000 FAMILIES ON THE COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE SCHEME THROUGH THE BANK AUTOPAY.
"INSTEAD OF ASKING THEM TO COLLECT VARIOUS KINDS OF PAYMENTS AT BANKS AND POST OFFICES, WE HAVE STREAMLINED OUR PAYMENT SYSTEM FOR THE BETTER CONVENIENCE OF OUR CUSTOMERS.
"OUR PRIMARY CONCERN IS TO ENSURE THAT THEY WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THEIR PAYMENTS ON TIME, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
"I
HE ADDED THAT THERE WERE BOUND TO BE SOME TEETHING PROBLEMS WITH THE COMPUTERISATION OF ANY MAJOR PROJECT. SOME HAD ARISEN DURING MARCH WHEN THE NEW COMPUTERISATION SYSTEM FOR THE SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENT WAS BEING TESTED.
"WE ARE PLEASED TO HAVE IDENTIFIED THESE PROBLEMS BEFORE THE FULL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SCHEME SO THAT WE HAVE TIME TO RECTIFY AND TO ENSURE ITS SMOOTH RUNNING IN APRIL, WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
"WE ARE ALSO WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE STAFF ON WAYS TO RESOLVE THESE TEETHING PROBLEMS, INCLUDING ARRANGEMENT OF OVERTIME PAYMENT AND OTHER BACK-UP TO STAFF, HE SAID.
HE ADDED THAT DURING THE TEST RUN SINCE THE BEGINNING OF MARCH SOME 200,000 CUSTOMERS ON COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE SCHEME, OLD AGE ALLOWANCE SCHEME AND DISABILITY SCHEME WERE PAID THROUGH THE AUTOPAY SYSTEM AT THE BANKS.
ALLOWANCE
DISTRICT OFFICER BANS HAWKING
ACTING
LEE,
CENTRAL AND WESTERN DISTRICT OFFICER, MR HOWARD TODAY (TUESDAY) REMINDED VISITORS AND FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS NOT TO ENGAGE IN ILLEGALLY HAWKING IN THE CHATER ROAD PRECINCT AREA DURING THE EASTER HOLIDAYS.
MR LEE SAID THE URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE WOULD TAKE FIRM ACTION TO ARREST AND PROSECUTE THOSE BREAKING THE LAW.
IMMIGRATION OFFICERS WILL ALSO BE PRESENT TO HELP INVESTIGATE ANY SUSPECTED BREACH OF THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE, HE ADDED.
/"HAWKING MIGHT