XN000022-1987-04-08 — Page 40

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 1987

MR JEAFFRESON SAID THAT A WORKING GROUP ON SECURITY OF GOLDSMITH AND JEWELLERY SHOPS HAD BEEN SET UP UNDER THE FIGHT CRIME COMMITTEE TO DETERMINE HOW SECURITY IN HIGH-RISK PREMISES COULD BE IMPROVED.

THE WORKING GROUP, ASSISTED BY THE POLICE CRIME PREVENTION BUREAU, MET REPRESENTATIVES OF TRADE ASSOCIATIONS TO ADVISE ON UP-TO-DATE AND EFFECTIVE SECURITY MEASURES, HE ADDED.

MOREOVER, IT HAD HELD SEMINARS

IT HAD HELD SEMINARS, PUBLISHED ADVISORY BOOKLETS AND VISITED JEWELLERS AND GOLDSMITHS TO GIVE ON-THE-SPOT ADVICE, MR JEAFFRESON SAID.

+THESE EFFORTS SEEM TO BE HAVING SOME EFFECT. SECURITY MEASURES INSTALLED ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CRIME PREVENTION BUREAU FOILED FIVE ROBBERIES IN 1985 AND FOUR IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF 1986. ROBBERIES IN JEWELLERY SHOPS AND SIMILAR PREMISES DECLINED FROM 92 IN 1983 TO 54 IN 1986. UP TO THE END OF MARCH THIS YEAR THERE HAVE BEEN 11, HE NOTED.

OLD AGE ALLOWANCE POLICY EXPLAINED

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THE ELDERLY PERSON OR HIS RELATIVES SHOULD APPROACH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FOR OLD AGE ALLOWANCE SHOULD A RECIPIENT'S ABSENCE FROM HONG KONG WAS PROLONGED BEYOND 90 DAYS FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON HILTON CHEONG-LEEN.

MR CHAMBERS SAID THE DEPARTMENT WOULD CONSIDER EACH CASE SYMPATHETICALLY, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE INDIVIDUAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

+ IN APPROPRIATE CASES THE DEPARTMENT HAS DISCRETION TO CONTINUE PAYMENT OF OLD AGE ALLOWANCE AFTER AN ABSENCE OF MORE THAN 90 DAYS,+ MR CHAMBERS SAID.

HE EXPLAINED OLD AGE ALLOWANCE WAS A NON-MEANS-TESTED PAYMENT INTENDED TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL RESIDENTS TO CARE FOR ELDERLY MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILIES, AND TO MEET THE EXTRA EXPENSES ARISING FROM OLD AGE.

+IT IS PAID FROM GENERAL REVENUE AND IS NOT A CONTRIBUTORY PENSION, HE ADDED.

HE SAID RESIDENCE IN HONG KONG WAS A NECESSARY QUALIFICATION FOR RECEIVING THE ALLOWANCE, BUT AN ABSENCE OF 90 DAYS WAS ALLOWED TO PERMIT RECIPIENTS TO VISIT RELATIVES AND TO GO ON HOLIDAY TRIPS OUTSIDE HONG KONG.

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