XN000022-1994-09-07 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1994

"OUR POLICY HAS BEEN TO PROVIDE A 'SAFETY NET' FOR THE DISADVANTAGED AND NEEDY TO MEET THEIR BASIC AND SPECIAL NEEDS. OVER THE YEARS, THE SAFETY NET HAS BEEN STRENGTHENED TO ENSURE THAT PAYMENTS ARE BETTER TAILORED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE UNDER- PRIVILEGED, MISS WILLIS SAID.

LLI

MISS WILLIS EMPHASISED THAT THE CSSA SCHEME WAS

INFLATION-

PROOF,

AND REAL INCREASES HAD BEEN MADE TO ENABLE THE NEEDY TO SHARE IN HONG KONG'S GROWING WEALTH.

"OVER THE LAST TWO DECADES, THE CSSA RATES HAVE INCREASED BY ABOUT 15 TIMES WHILE THE RATE OF INFLATION MEASURED BY CPI(A) HAS GONE UP BY ONLY SIX TIMES.

"

THESE PAYMENTS REPRESENT 35 PER CENT TO 98 PER CENT OF THE AVERAGE MANUFACTURING WORKER'S WAGE OR 30 PER CENT TO 83 PER CENT OF THE MEDIAN WAGE, MISS WILLIS SAID.

SHE SAID SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS WERE REVIEWED REGULARLY WOULD CONTINUE TO BE HIGH ON THE AGENDA THIS YEAR.

AND

"IMPROVEMENTS ΤΟ CSSA IS AN ON-GOING PROGRAMME WHICH WILL CONTINUE," MISS WILLIS STRESSED.

THE BUDGET STANDARD APPROACH WAS ADVOCATED

IN AN ACADEMIC RESEARCH COMMISSIONED BY THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE то STUDY THE ADEQUACY OF THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE RATES IN HONG KONG,

0

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EDUCATION DIRECTOR WELCOMES END OF INDUSTRIAL ACTION

TODAY

THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, MR DOMINIC S W WONG, (WEDNESDAY) WELCOMES THE DECISION MADE BY THE LECTURING STAFF UNIONS TO CALL OFF INDUSTRIAL ACTION WHICH STARTED ON AUGUST 30.

"I AM GLAD THAT THE LECTURERS HAVE ADOPTED A RESPONSIBLE ATTITUDE, AND WILL NOW RETURN TO THEIR NORMAL DUTIES IN THE HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION SO THAT THE IMPORTANT TASK OF TEACHER EDUCATION WILL CONTINUE WITHOUT DISRUPTION," MR WONG SAID.

"WE

WILL CONTINUE OUR DIALOGUE WITH STAFF DURING THE REST OF THE CONSULTATION PERIOD, WHICH ENDS ON OCTOBER 31," MR WONG ADDED.

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