XN000022-1987-11-05 — Page 23

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1987

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"INCOME DECLARATION, WHICH DISQUALIFIES A SINGLE PERSON WITH MONTHLY INCOME OF $1,500 AND ASSETS OF $100,000, AUTOMATICALLY LABELS THE RECIPIENTS AS PEOPLE LEAST ABLE TO HELP THEMSELVES, HE SAID.

"THIS UNWANTED SOCIAL STIGMA EASILY BECOMES A DETERRENT TO POTENTIAL OLD AGE ALLOWANCE CLAIMANTS."

MR HUI SAID VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES SERVING THE ELDERLY INSISTED THAT THE NON-MEANS TESTED OLD AGE ALLOWANCE, WHICH HAD BEEN OPERATING SUCCESSFULLY FOR THE PAST 14 YEARS, SHOULD BE RETAINED.

AS CONVENOR OF THE OMELCO PANEL ON WELFARE SERVICES, MR HUI SAID PANEL MEMBERS WERE ALSO UNANIMOUS IN OPPOSING THE PROPOSED INTRODUCTION OF AN INCOME DECLARATION FOR NEW APPLICANTS FOR THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE.

"WE STRONGLY FELT THAT WITHHOLDING THE ENTITLEMENT FROM OUR SENIOR CITIZENS WOULD NULLIFY THE HARD EARNED RESULTS OF YEARS OF CIVIC EDUCATION EFFORT IN PROMOTING APPRECIATION AND RESPECT FOR THE ELDERLY, HE SAID.

SIMILAR VIEWS HAD BEEN EXPRESSED BY THE SOCIAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE ON THE ELDERLY, ADDED.

WELFARE

MR HUI

REMEDIAL MEASURES NO SUBSTITUTE FOR CPF

THE HON ROSANNA TAM SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION NOT CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND.

THAT SHE IS

то SET UP A

SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DURING THE POLICY DEBATE, MRS TAM SAID IT WAS WRONG TO DROP THE IDEA AND INSTEAD INTRODUCE OTHER REMEDIAL MEASURES SUCH AS STRENGTHENING THE SUPERVISION OF PRIVATE PROVIDENT FUNDS, IMPROVING SOCIAL SECURITY, AND EXTENDING AND CHANGING THE CHARACTER OF THE LONG SERVICE PAYMENT SCHEME.

SHE SAID THE PROPOSED REMEDIAL MEASURES WERE ESSENTIALLY OF A DIFFERENT NATURE FROM THAT OF A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND. THEY COULD DO LITTLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS THAT A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND SCHEME WAS INTENDED TO RESOLVE.

SHE SAID THAT, IN PRACTICE, THE CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND WAS A COMPULSORY SAVINGS SCHEME BASED ON THE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIP. IT WAS NOT SOCIAL WELFARE AND DID NOT EFFECT RE-DISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH. IN SPIRIT, THE CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND LUNCHES" AND NOT "FREE LUNCHES".

ENCOURAGED

"SELF-PROVIDED

/SHE ADDED