XN000022-1992-12-02 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1992

NEW SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME NEXT JULY

THE GOVERNMENT WILL INTRODUCE A NEW COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE SCHEME ON JULY 1 NEXT YEAR TO REPLACE THE EXISTING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON JIMMY MCGREGOR, MRS WONG SAID THE NEW SCHEME WOULD EMBRACE DIFFERENT "STANDARD" RATES TO MEET THE GENERAL NEEDS OF BROAD CATEGORIES OF CLIENTS AND A RANGE OF "SPECIAL SUBSIDIES" TO MEET THE PERSONAL NEEDS OF INDIVIDUAL CLIENTS.

RATE

UNDER THE NEW SCHEME, SHE SAID, EVERYONE WOULD BE BETTER OFF.

"FOR INSTANCE, AN ELDERLY PERSON AGED 60 NOW RECEIVES A BASIC PLUS SUPPLEMENTS MAKING A TOTAL OF $1,620 A MONTH, BUT НЕ WILL RECEIVE $1,800 A MONTH UNDER THE NEW SCHEME, MRS WONG SAID.

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"AN ELDERLY COUPLE BOTH AGED 60 NOW RECEIVE $2,790 A MONTH, BUT THEY WILL RECEIVE $3,090 UNDER THE NEW SCHEME."

THE SECRETARY SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE UPDATING THE VARIOUS TARGETS IN SOCIAL WELFARE REGULARLY TO ENSURE THAT THEY MATCH THE CHANGING NEEDS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE VARIOUS GROUPS OF CLIENTS.

ADDITIONAL TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM, MRS WONG SAID, THE GOVERNMENT WAS AT PRESENT CONSULTING THE PUBLIC ON PROPOSALS FOR A RETIREMENT PROTECTION SYSTEM BASED ON STATUTORY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS.

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DANGEROUS GOODS EVACUATION PLAN NOT NECESSARY

EVACUATING

THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT HAVE A CONTINGENCY PLAN FOR AREAS CLOSE TO DANGEROUS GOODS ANCHORAGES (DGA), AS IT DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS IS NECESSARY, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

NONE OF THE SEVEN DGA'S DESIGNATED IN HONG KONG WATERS ARE CLOSE TO RESIDENTIAL AREAS EXCEPT THE TSUEN WAN DGA, HE SAID.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ALBERT CHAN WAI-YIP IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR ASPREY SAID THE DIRECTOR OF MARINE WAS UNDERTAKING A CONSULTANCY STUDY ON HAZARD ASSESSMENT FOR THE TSUEN WAN

DGA.

THE STUDY IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY JULY NEXT YEAR.

"POSSIBLE RELOCATION OF THIS DGA WOULD BE CONSIDERED ONLY WHEN THAT CONSULTANCY STUDY IS COMPLETED," MR ASPREY SAID.

/HE ADDED

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