XN000022-1994-07-21 — Page 6

THURSDAY, JULY 21, 1994

MR

SERVICES,

AND SENIOR

WAS HE

MET ON ARRIVAL BY THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE JERRY LAM CHEK-YUEN, THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR, MR PETER CHEUNG, DIVISIONAL OFFICER (AIR), MR ALBERT CHAN TING-KAI.

MR PATTEN WAS TOLD THAT THE HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, FIRE RECKONED AS ONE OF THE BUSIEST AIRPORTS IN THE WORLD, HOUSES TWO STATIONS AT BOTH ENDS OF THE RUNWAY TO PROVIDE FASTER AND MORE EFFICIENT SEA AND LAND RESCUE SERVICES.

IS

THE 128-STRONG FIRE CONTINGENT, OPERATING AROUND THE CLOCK, EQUIPPED WITH 12 MODERN AND POWERFUL RESCUE AND FIRE-FIGHTING VEHICLES, THREE INFLATABLE RESCUE BOATS AND TWO RESCUE LAUNCHES, OF WHICH CAN CARRY 510 PEOPLE.

DURING THE HOUR-LONG TOUR, THE GOVERNOR ALSO OBSERVED DEMONSTRATE FIRE-FIGHTING SKILLS AND THE USE OF SPECIALISED RESCUE AND BREAKING-IN EQUIPMENT.

ONE

FIREMEN

AIRCRAFT

0

-

OLD AGE PENSION SCHEME CAREFULLY STRUCTURED: FS

THE GOVERNMENT HAS CAREFULLY STRUCTURED THE PROPOSED OLD AGE PENSION SCHEME, INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF $10 BILLION UP-FRONT PAYMENT, TO MEET REQUESTS THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONTRIBUTE ONE-THIRD OF THE COST OF THE SCHEME, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, SIR HAMISH MACLEOD, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

SPEAKING то REPORTERS AFTER VISITING THE CHEUNG MUK TAU HOLIDAY CENTRE FOR THE ELDERLY, SIR HAMISH NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SEEMED TO RE GFTTING OVER THE MESSAGE THAT IT WAS CONTRIBUTING MORE THAN ONE-THIRD TO THE SCHEME.

IN FACT

HE WAS HOWEVER DISAPPOINTED THAT SOME CRITICS WERE NOW SHIFTING GROUND BY DEMANDING EVEN MORE.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION, SIR HAMISH SAID HE WAS AMAZED AT THE HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER'S SUGGESTION THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD FUND AN ENHANCED OLD AGE ALLOWANCE INSTEAD OF AN OLD AGE PENSION SCHEME.

IF PEOPLE WERE WORRIED ABOUT WELFARISM, THEN OF COURSE THEIR PROPOSAL WAS PRECISELY WHAT PEOPLE MEANT BY WELFARISM BECAUSE THE ENTIRE BURDEN OF THAT PROPOSAL WOULD GO ON TO THE TAXPAYER, HE SAID.

"THERE IS NO QUESTION OF ANY CONTRIBUTION AS FAR AS I CAN SEE IN THE CHAMBER'S SUGGESTION. SO IT WOULD BE ENTIRELY A BURDEN ON THE TAXPAYER," HE SAID.

SIR HAMISH GAVE A REASSURANCE THAT HONG KONG WAS NOT MOVING TOWARDS WELFARISM

TOWARDS A SLIPPERY SLOPE OF

EVER INCREASING CONTRIBUTIONS BY THE TAX PAYER.

"THAT IS PRECISELY THE MERIT OF THE SCHEME WITH AN IRON LINK BETWEEN CONTRIBUTIONS AND BENEFITS."

SELF CONTAINED,

/SIR HAMISH