WEDNESDAY, JULY 28.-1982
OTHER FORMER FAR EAST POWS WHO DID NOT SERVE IN ANY OF THE UNITS LISTED IN THE FIRST SCHEDULE TO THE HONG KONG WAR MEMORIAL FUND ORDINANCE, BUT WHO ARE NOW IN NEED, MAY APPLY TO THE FAR EAST RELIEF FUND ADMINISTERED SEPARATELY BY THE WAR MEMORIAL FUND COMMITTEE.
FORMER POWS AND OTHER VICTIMS OF THE LAST WAR ALSO RECEIVE ADDITIONAL SERVICES AND BENEFITS IN RECENT YEARS FOLLOWING A GOVERNMENT REVIEW OF THEIR NEEDS, MR HO SAID.
THESE INCLUDE A FREE MEDICAL SCHEME ANNOUNCED IN JULY 1977 FOR CIVILIANS IMPRISONED AND TORTURED BY THE ENEMY AND FOR ALL FORMER HONG KONG POWS; A NON-MEANS-TESTED SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE INTRODUCED BY THE WAR MEMORIAL FUND COMMITTEE IN DECEMBER 1980; THE AMENDMENT IN 1979 OF THE WAR MEMORIAL FUND ORDINANCE TO ENABLE POWS IN NEED TO QUALIFY FOR ASSISTANCE WITHOUT THEIR HAVING TO PROVE INCAPACITY ARISING OUT OF THE ENEMY ATTACK ON HONG KONG IN 1941 AND ITS AFTERMATH; AND THE GOVERNMENT'S UNDERWRITING OF THE WAR MEMORIAL FUND TO GUARANTEE THE DISCHARGE OF ITS COMMITMENTS TO ALL POTENTIAL BENEFICIARIES.
MR HO SAID 133 VOLUNTEER PENSIONS ARE IN PAYMENT TO 63 WIDOWS AND 70 DISABLED VOLUNTEERS (64 OF THEM ARE NOW LIVING OVERSEAS AND SIX ARE RESIDENTS IN HONG KONG). THERE ARE 167 FAMILIES (COMPRISING 223 PERSONS) WHO ARE BENEFICIARIES OF THE WAR MEMORIAL FUND, INCLUDING 84 FORMER POWS OF WHOM 37 ARE LIVING OVERSEAS AND 47 IN HONG KONG.
HE SAID THE GRANTS AND ALLOWANCES PAYABLE BY THE WAR MEMORIAL FUND ARE REVIEWED REGULARLY IN THE LIGHT OF CHANGES IN THE COST OF LIVING, AND ANY CASE OF HARDSHIP BROUGHT TO THE NOTICE OF THE WAR MEMORIAL FUND COMMITTEE WILL BE GIVEN THE MOST SYMPATHETIC CONSIDERATION.
ON THE QUESTION OF PENSIONS FOR THE EX-POWS AS OF RIGHT WHICH SOME OF THEM SEEM TO BE CLAIMING, MR HO SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S POSITION REMAINS AS STATED IN HIS REPLY TO THE HON LYDIA DUNN IN THE COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 28, 19791 UNLESS HER MAJESTY IN COUNCIL INCLUDES PROVISION FOR SUCH POW PENSIONS IN THE NAVAL, MILITARY AND AIR FORCES ETC (DISABLEMENT AND DEATH) SERVICE PENSIONS ORDERS, THERE IS NO CASE FOR SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS TO BE MADE FOR THEM
IN HONG KONG BEYOND THE MEASURES ALREADY DESCRIBED.
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