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Amongst other things, our current review of the CSSA Scheme is examining the level of assets a person should be able to hold while being eligible for CSSA payments. I note the recommendation made by the Hon Fred Li that this asset limit should be raised to $96,000 per person. While not wishing to pre-empt the outcome of the current review, this would appear to be high for a single person. But it is not that much higher than the current CSSA asset limit of $71,000 which would apply to an unemployed person living in a family unit of four persons. Since we have no statistics on the level of assets generally held in Hong Kong, the impact of any major relaxation of this eligibility criterion is particularly difficult to assess in financial terms, but any major relaxation could obviously expand considerably the numbers of people becoming eligible. All of the recommendations arising from the CSSA Review, including that on the asset limits, will be set out for Members early next year with all the background information to support a fully informed debate on them.
Mr President, the Administration therefore urges Members to think very carefully before supporting the Motion or either of the two proposed amendments. There is no justification for an Unemployment Assistance Scheme nor for massive increases in the level of CSSA payments.
Thank you.
End/Wednesday, November 22, 1995
Rehabilitation of Offenders Bill
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in moving the second reading of the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Amendment) Bill 1995 in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Mr President,
I move that the Rehabilitation of Offenders (Amendment) Bill 1995 be read the second time. The Bill mainly seeks to expand the scope of the rehabilitation scheme under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Ordinance so that more people who have committed minor offences can benefit.