XN000022-1991-05-01 — Page 19

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 1991

THE INCOME THRESHOLD REQUIREMENT WAS INTRODUCED ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF A SELECT COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHICH CONCLUDED, IN 1986, THAT THE TERMS OF THE EXISTING HONG HONG WAR MEMORIAL FUND ORDINANCE REQUIRED THAT ASSISTANCE FROM THE FUND MUST BE BASED ON NEED.

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IN FEBRUARY LAST YEAR, I WAS ASKED IN THIS COUNCIL WHETHER GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER CONVERTING THE EXISTING GRANTS INTO PENSIONS.

"SUBSEQUENTLY, I MET WITH MEMBERS OF THE HONG KONG WAR MEMORIAL FUND COMMITTEE AND RE-EXAMINED THE CURRENT POLICY IN THE LIGHT OF NEW EVIDENCE PRESENTED BY THE COMMITTEE, MRS WONG SAID.

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THE COMMITTEE POINTED TO THE SUFFERING ENDURED BY HONG KONG'S OWN EX-PRISONERS OF WAR AND THE GROWING BODY OF EVIDENCE IN A NUMBER OF MEDICAL STUDIES REGARDING THE PARTICULAR LONG-TERM PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF BEING HELD IN CAPTIVITY IN ASIA DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR, THE SECRETARY SAID.

SHE SAID THESE STUDIES OFFERED NEW INSIGHT INTO THE DETRIMENTAL EFFECT OF LONG-TERM CAPTIVITY ON OUR EX-PRISONERS OF WAR: THE MAJORITY OF WHOM WERE ELDERLY AND IN DETERIORATING HEALTH.

SHE ADDED THAT THE REMOVAL OF THE INCOME THRESHOLD REQUIREMENT AND THE AWARD OF PENSIONS, PAYABLE AS RECOGNITION OF INJURIES SUSTAINED IN THE DEFENCE OF HONG KONG AND SUFFERING ENDURED BY EX- PRISONERS OF WAR IN CAPTIVITY WAS WARRANTED.

"1T HAS LONG BEEN THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY THAT A DEBT OF GRATITUDE IS OWED.

"THE SPECIAL CASE OF EX-PRISONERS OF WAR, ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE PAST BY PAYMENT OF DISCRETIONARY GRANTS, WILL NOW BE RECOGNISED THROUGH CONVERSION OF THESE GRANTS INTO PENSIONS, MRS WONG SAID.

THE HONG KONG WAR MEMORIAL PENSIONS FROM THIS CHANGE IN POLICY, MRS WONG NOTED.

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BILL FOLLOWED DIRECTLY

THE BILL PROVIDED FOR THE REPEAL OF THE HONG KONG WAR MEMORIAL FUND ORDINANCE AND THE DISSOLUTION OF THE FUND AND ITS COMMITTEE IN ORDER TO PAVE THE WAY FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF THE NEW LEGISLATION AND ARRANGEMENTS CATERING SPECIFICALLY FOR THE AWARD OF STATUTORY PENSIONS.

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THESE STEPS WERE NECESSARY BECAUSE, AS THE SELECT COMMITTEE THIS COUNCIL CONCLUDED, THE EXISTING ORDINANCE REQUIRED AN APPLICANT'S NEED FOR ASSISTANCE TO BE ASSESSED.

MRS WONG SAID IT WAS ALSO. PROBABLE THAT THE LEGAL STATUS OF THE WAR MEMORIAL FUND WAS THAT OF A DISCRETIONARY CHARITABLE TRUST, THUS MAKING IT AN INAPPROPRIATE VEHICLE FOR THE PAYMENT OF STATUTORY PENSIONS.

"PENSIONS OF THIS KIND ARE MORE PROPERLY PAID DIRECTLY BY GOVERNMENT, THE SECRETARY EXPLAINED.

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/MRS WONG