XN000022-1978-06-07 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 1978

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CALL FOR EARLY LOWERING OF QUALIFYING AGE

FOR OLD AGE ALLOWANCE TO 70

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THE UMELCO AD HOC GROUP FORMED TO STUDY THE GREEN PAPER ON SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY HAS ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO LOWER THE AGE OF ELIGIBILITY FOR THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE TO 70 THIS OCTOBER INSTEAD OF APRIL NEXT YEAR.

MOVING THE DEBATE ON THE GREEN PAPER IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, CONVENER OF THE AD HOC GROUP. DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG ALSO CALLED ATTENTION TO TWO OTHER CASH ASSISTANCES WHICH NEED IMPROVEMENT.

ONE IS THE ALLOWANCE GIVEN TO THOSE ELDERLY PERSONS LIVING IN 'INSTITUTIONS. THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING AWAY A MAJOR PART OF IT EY REDUCING SUBVENTIONS TO THE INSTITUTIONS CONCERNED, HE SAID.

IN REAL TERMS, THEREFORE, THE ELDERLY BENEFIT VERY LITTLE AND THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WHICH ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR RUNNING THESE INSITUTIONS ARE DISCREDITED BECAUSE THEY ARE ASKED TO INCREASE THEIR CHARGES, HE ADDED.

THE OTHER CASH ASSISTANCE IS THE OLD AGE SUPPLEMENT FOR THE ELDERLY WHICH WAS ARBITRARILY FIXED AT HALF THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ALLOWANCE RECEIVABLE BY A SINGLE PERSON.

TO MAKE THIS ALLOWANCE MORE REALISTIC, DR. FANG SUPPORTED THE PROPOSAL IN THE GREEN PAPER TO DRAW UP AN INDEX OF OLD AGE NEEDS, EMPHASISING SUCH FACTORS AS TRANSPORT, HOME HELP, EXPENSES AR IS ING OUT OF ILL HEALTH AND INFIRMITY, SPECIAL DIET, AND PERSONAL EXPENSES. HE HOPED THIS INDEX WOULD BE INTRODUCED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

FIVE OTHER UNOFFICIAL COUNCILLORS SPOKE ON THE GREEN PAPER DURING THE DEBATE.

THE REV. THE HON. JOYCE M. BENNETT AND THE HON. WONG LAM THOUGHT THE ADMINISTRATIVE REASON GIVEN FOR NOT LOWERING THE QUAL IFYING AGE FOR THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE THIS OCTOBER WAS UNCONVINCING. +CIVIL SERVANTS ARE THE SERVANTS OF THE PEOPLE,+ MISS BENNETT SAID. +THEREFORE IF WE BELIEVE IT IS RIGHT TO GIVE THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE AT 70 WE SHOULD NOT POSTPONE THIS BENEFIT FOR ADMINISTRATIVE CONVENIENCE.+

THE HON. MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE LEVEL OF FEES CHARGED BY INSTITUTIONS WHERE THE ELDERLY RECEIVE WELFARE ALLOWANCES.

SHE HOPED IT WOULD NOT BE SUCH THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD EE ACCUSED OF +GIVING WITH ONE HAND, AND TAKING BACK WITH THE OTHER. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO ENSURE THAT NO ONE IS PREVENTED FROM USING THE SERVICES BECAUSE OF THE INCREASE IN FEES, SHE SAID.

/MISS BENNETT