XN000022-1990-11-07 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1990

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JOIN HANDS TO DEVELOP SOUND WELFARE SERVICES: SHW

SOUND FOUNDATION OF HONG KONG'S WELFARE SERVICES CAN BE FURTHER DEVELOPED TO CATER FOR THE CHANGING PATTERNS OF SOCIETY AND TO FULFIL THE NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF ITS COMMUNITY INTO THE 1990'S AND BEYOND, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON ELIZABETH WONG, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

WINDING UP THE MOTION DEBATE ON THE DRAFT WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL WELFARE INTO 1990'S AND BEYOND IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING, MRS WONG SAID SHE WAS CONFIDENT THAT THIS COULD BE ACHIEVED WITH THE ACTIVE SUPPORT OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

MRS WONG SAID SHE WAS GRATEFUL TO LEARN THAT MANY MEMBERS SHARED THE WORKING PARTY'S VISION FOR THE FUTURE WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF FAMILY, CHILD CARE AND YOUTH SERVICES.

SHE STRESSED THAT THEIR VIEWS ON THE DRAFT WHITE PAPER WOULD BE REFERRED TO THE WORKING PARTY ON SOCIAL WELFARE POLICIES AND SERVICES, WHICH WOULD WISH TO RE-EXAMINE THE CONTENTS OF THE DRAFT BEFORE SUBMITTING IT TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR CONSIDERATION.

DURING THE DEBATE, MRS WONG NOTED THAT THERE HAD BEEN IMPORTANT REFERENCES TO THE NEED FOR PROTECTION AGAINST THE LEAN YEARS OF OLD AGE PARTICULARLY AS THIS ELEMENT OF THE POPULATION WAS EXPECTED TO INCREASE IN THE FUTURE AND SOME MEMBERS HAD SUGGESTED THEY WERE BEING DUMPED BY THE YOUNG.

"GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS THE IDEA OF PROVIDING FOR SECURITY IN OLD AGE, SHE SAID.

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MRS WONG POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT DID THIS WAYS: FIRST, BY ENHANCING SOCIAL WELFARE PROVISIONS FOR THE SECONDLY, BY EXTENDING THE LONG SERVICE PAYMENT SCHEME; AND BY ENCOURAGING THE CREATION OF, AND THE PROPER SUPERVISION OF RETIREMENT SCHEMES.

OF

IN THREE ELDERLY: THIRDLY, PRIVATE

ON SOCIAL SECURITY, MRS WONG EXPLAINED THAT THE APPLICABILITY OLD AGE ALLOWANCE HAD BEEN IMPROVED AND PROGRESSIVELY EXTENDED SINCE 1988 FROM THE AGE OF 70 TO THE AGE OF 65 BY NEXT YEAR.

"THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF OUR SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM IS TO PROVIDE FOR PROTECTION AGAINST THOSE CONTINGENCIES OF LIFE FROM WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL IS UNLIKELY TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY BY HIS OWN EFFORTS AND FORESIGHT.

"OUR

SYSTEM IS, THEREFORE, BASED ON THE CONCEPT OF NEED,' SHE

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SAID.

MRS WONG POINTED

OUT THAT SINCE THE 1960S THERE HAD BEEN PERIODIC CALLS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SOME FORMS OF COMPULSORY RETIREMENT SCHEMES IN HONG KONG.

/SHE ADDED

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