XN000022-1977-12-15 — Page 2

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15, 1977

CONCERTED EFFORTS TO SOLICIT PUBLIC OPINION ON SOCIAL SECURITY GREEN PAPER

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GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS ARE MAKING A CONCERTED EFFORT TO SOLICIT PUBLIC OPINION ON THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SICKNESS, INJURY AND DEATH BENEFIT SCHEME PROPOSED IN THE RECENTLY PUBLISHED GREEN PAPER ON SOCIAL SECURITY DEVELOPMENT.

SPEAKING AT A MEETING OF THE LIONS CLUB OF CASTLE PEAK

THIS (THURSDAY) EVENING, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE MR. JIMMY SWEETMAN, SAID THAT THE DECISIONS TO BE MADE BEFORE À WHITE PAPER IS PUBLISHED DEPEND TO A GREAT EXTENT ON THE OPINIONS AND ARGUMENTS EXPRESSED BY THE PUBLIC.

+THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR IS PLAYING A LEADING ROLE IN THIS OPERATION. HIS DEPARTMENT HAS SENT COPIES OF THE GREEN PAPER AND EXPLANATORY PAMPHLETS TO 232 TRADE UNIONS, 12 MIXED UNIONS OF EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES, 293 EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATIONS, CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE AND OTHER INTERESTED ASSOCIATIONS. WHEN THEIR OPINIONS HAVE BEEN RECEIVED, THEY WILL BE DISCUSSED WITH THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD, + MR. SWEETMAN EXPLAINED.

THE HOME AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT, HE ADDED, HAD ALSO BEEN CONCERNED THROUGH ITS NETWORK OF CITY DISTRICT OFFICERS WHO WOULD CONSULT DISTRICT LEADERS AND MEMBERS FROM VARIOUS SECTORS OF THE PUBLIC.

+THE DEPARTMENT IS ALSO CARRYING OUT A PUBLIC OPINION SURVEY AMONG BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES WHICH WILL HELP TO OBTAIN A CLEARER PICTURE OF THEIR ATTITUDES ON WHAT THEY EXPECT THE GOVERNMENT TO DO IN THE WAY OF PROVIDING THEM WITH SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.+

MR. SWEETMAN POINTED OUT THAT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN CONSULTING THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE AND WOULD BE CONSIDERING THE PROPOSALS OF THE GREEN PAPER IN THE ANNUAL REVIEW OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEVELOPMENT PLAN.

+SO, WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE VOLUNTARY SECTOR'S COMMENTS INCLUDING THOSE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, WE TOO CAN ADVISE THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES ON REACTIONS TO THESE PROPOSALS,+ HE ADDED.

ON THE WORKERS' RESPONSE TO THE PROPOSALS TO INTRODUCE THIS SCHEME, MR. SWEETMAN SAID THAT THE IMMEDIATE REACTION APPEARED TO BE FAVOURABLE. HOWEVER, HE WAS CONCERNED THAT THROUGH INADEQUATE STUDY ON THE IMPLICATIONS, PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE THE MISCONCEPTION THAT THEY WOULD GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING FROM THE SCHEME.

/+THIS IS