XN000022-1988-05-11 — Page 25

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1988

MR BARNES POINTED OUT THAT IF THE BILL WAS ENACTED, THE RULES MADE UNDER THE SOCIETIES ORDINANCE WOULD BE AMENDED TO DELETE THE $1 CHARGE AND SUBSTITUTE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES, WHICH WOULD ENABLE THE REGISTRAR TO PREVENT CASUAL REFERENCE то THE REGISTERS, SHOULD SUCH MEASURES EVER BE NECESSARY.

"OPPORTUNITY IS ALSO BEING TAKEN TO UPDATE THE ORDINANCE BY SUBSTITUTING THE WORDS 'HONG KONG' IN PLACE OF 'THE COLONY', WHEREVER THIS OCCURS, HE ADDED.

"

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED,

0

SIX PER CENT INCREASE IN CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONS

TWO MOTIONS PROPOSING TO INCREASE THE RATE OF CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONS WERE APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSED TO INCREASE ALL CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONS, INCLUDING THOSE PAYABLE UNDER THE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS PENSION SCHEME AND UNDER THE WIDOWS' AND CHILDREN'S PENSIONS SCHEME, BY SIX PER CENT, EFFECTIVE FROM APRIL 1.

THE TOTAL COST FOR THE PROPOSED PENSION INCREASE WAS ESTIMATED AT $49.8 MILLION FOR A FULL YEAR.

IN MOVING THE TWO MOTIONS UNDER THE PENSIONS (INCREASE) ORDINANCE AND THE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS PENSION (INCREASE) ORDINANCE, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR DAVID FORD, SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S DECLARED POLICY WAS TO MAINTAIN THE ORIGINAL PURCHASING POWER OF CIVIL SERVICE PENSIONS.

THIS WAS ACHIEVED BY PERIODIC PENSION ADJUSTMENTS IN LINE WITH MOVEMENTS IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (A), HE SAID.

THE INDEX INDICATED THAT ITS MOVING ANNUAL AVERAGE ROSE BY 6.5 POINTS OR 6.2 PER CENT DURING THE LATEST REVIEW PERIOD FROM APRIL 1 LAST YEAR TO MARCH 31 THIS YEAR.

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