"This will also ensure that pension benefits for members of the auxiliary forces will be no better than those for members of the civil service," he said.
The major proposals under the unified scheme include:
An injury pension will be granted to a member who is permanently injured while on duty and whose service has to be terminated. This pension will be calculated according to the percentage of permanent impairment to his capacity;
A death gratuity will be granted in respect of a member who dies as a result of any injury sustained in the discharge of his duty. In addition, a dependant pension will be paid to the spouse (covering both widows and widowers) and dependants of such member;
Increases to pensions will be paid in line with those applicable to members of the civil service and
Free medical treatment in respect of injuries sustained in the course of duty will be provided to a member who has retired because of that injury.
The spokesman added that under the proposed scheme, members could opt for either pension benefits under the regulation to be made under the Bill, or compensation under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance or the Occupation Deafness (Compensation) Ordinance as appropriate.
"The Bill also proposes to empower the Government to recover the commuted amount of the pension benefits paid to a member from a third
if that person is found to be liable for the member's injury or death," he added.
person, if that
The Bill is expected to be introduced into the Legislative Council on January 22
this year.
End