XN000022-1982-11-11 — Page 16

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1982

ON OCTOBER 1 THIS YEAR, THE FUND WAS JUST UNDER $19 MILLION, AND WITH ITS ANNUAL INCOME OF ABOUT $2 MILLION AND ANNUAL OUTLAY OF $3.6 MILLION, IT WILL BE SOME YEARS BEFORE THE FUND WILL NEED TO CALL ON THE GOVERNMENT'S GUARANTEE, SIR PHILIP REPORTED,

HE DISCLOSED THAT APART FROM THE MAIN CONCLUSIONS OF THE REVIEW, SOME POINTS OF DETAIL ALSO EMERGED WHICH THE GOVERNMENT WILL BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF THE WAR MEMORIAL FUND COMMITTEE FOR THEIR FURTHER CONSIDERATION.

NOTING THAT NO FORMAL APPEALS PROCEDURE EXISTED UNDER THE VOLUNTEER AND NAVAL VOLUNTEER PENSIONS ORDINANCE, HE SAID, +YOUR EXCELLENCY HAS DECIDED THAT YOU WILL CONSIDER PETITIONS IN INDIVIDUAL CASES, AND YOU WILL SEEK THE ADVICE OF EXECUTIVE COUNCIL WHERE APPROPRIATE.+

SIR PHILIP EXPRESSED THE HOPE THAT THE REVIEW WOULD SATISFY THOSE CONCERNED THAT ALL THAT CAN BE REASONABLY DONE FOR OUR POWS IS ACTUALLY BEING DONE.+

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME

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THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME WILL REMAIN THE CENTRAL PILLAR OF HONG KONG'S SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM, PROVIDING A SAFETY NET FOR PEOPLE IN NEED, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON ERIC HO SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY), DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS.

+THIS IS THE ONE ITEM OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE WHICH CANNOT, AND WILL NOT BE ARTIFICIALLY RESTRAINED BECAUSE OF ANY FINANCIAL STRINGENCY, MR HO STRESSED.

HE SAID THAT IF THERE WAS HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT AS A RESULT OF A FURTHER ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, THE GOVERNMENT WAS FULLY COMMITTED TO MEETING ALL PUBLIC ASSISTANCE OUTLAYS WHICH MIGHT THEN RESULT.

MR HO STATED THAT IN THE PRESENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO KEEP UNDER REGULAR REVIEW THE LEVELS OF PAYMENT DUE UNDER THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES SCHEMES SO AS TO KEEP PACE WITH THE MOVEMENT OF PRICES. HE REPORTED THAT AN AMENDMENT BILL TO PROVIDE FOR BETTER SICKNESS BENEFITS AND GRANTS TO COVER DEATHS OF EMPLOYEES WOULD BE INTRODUCED FOR THE COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION SHORTLY.

THE EXISTING PROVISION WHEREBY AN EMPLOYEE IS ELIGIBLE FOR SEVERANCE PAYMENT IF HIS EMPLOYER MOVES HIS PLACE OF BUSINESS WILL REQUIRE CAREFUL REVIEW, MR HO SAID.

THIS IS BECAUSE THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG'S TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE IS INTENDED TO FACILITATE A FREE FLOW BETWEEN HONG KONG ISLAND, KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES, HE EXPLAINED.

/ON PRE-SCHOOL