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OAA is not granted in recognition of any assessed financial need. The existing absence allowance of about 6 months in any one year is more than adequate to allow OAA recipients to exercise their freedom to travel overseas for whatever reason. I cannot see how the absence rules can be said to have any adverse effect on the livelihood of recipients. Since the Director of Social Welfare already has the power to permit a longer period of absence under certain circumstances, we can see no case for any further general relaxation of this rule.
End/Wednesday, November 15, 1995
Review of law to ensure consistency with BOR
Following is a question by the Hon Lee Cheuk-yan and a written reply by the Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Michael Suen, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
In his recent briefing for Members of this Council on the Governor's policy commitments, the Secretary for Home Affairs stated that he would continue to co- ordinate the review of legislation to ensure its compliance with the Bill of Rights, and that the Government would introduce draft amendments to four Ordinances in the current legislative session. On the other hand, the Chinese Government has indicated that the Hong Kong Government should not make any major changes to existing legislation before 1997. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the four Ordinances to which the Government intends to introduce amendment bills in the current legislative session; and
(b) whether the Government will give up its efforts in continuing to revise legislation which contravenes the Bill of Rights in view of the light of the Chinese Government's stance mentioned above?
Reply:
(a) The four Ordinances involve: