XN000022-1994-10-14 — Page 10

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1994

SIR, THE

WHEN

IAN CHRISTIE OF HONG KONG GENERAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE :

BEING THE SECOND CHAMBER HAS OFTEN BEEN CRITICISED IN THE PAST AS VOICE OF GOVERNMENT IN HONG KONG, SO ON THE VERY RARE OCCASIONS WE TAKE ISSUE WITH THE ADMINISTRATION ON SOME SUBJECTS I HOPE THAT OUR IS CRITICISM WILL BE RECEIVED IN THE CONSTRUCTIVE MANNER IN WHICH IT

AS INTENDED. THE GOVERNMENT CURRENTLY IS VERY ACTIVELY PROMOTING PAY

AGE PENSION YOU GO UNIVERSAL SCHEME FOR THE ELDERLY UNDER ITS OLD

AND PRACTICE SCHEME.

THIS FLIES IN THE FACE OF CURRENT WORLD

RECENT REPORT OPINION, INCLUDING THAT OF THE WORLD BANK, WHICH IN A ENTITLED AVERTING THE OLD AGE CRISIS, SUPPORTS PRIVATE SECTOR FOR RETIREMENT, AND GOVERNMENT WELFARE PAYMENTS FROM GENERAL WE SEEK YOUR ASSURANCE SIR, THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAS A GENUINELY MIND IN RESPECT OF ITS CHOSEN COURSE AT THE END OF THE CURRENT OF CONSULTATION.

NOW

+

SAVINGS

REVENUE.

OPEN PERIOD

GOVERNOR : WHAT

KONG

AND OF

BALANCES

WE

SUBJECT

SIR

VERY OFTEN SAY WHAT WE WANT IN HONG PEOPLE WE WANT TO SEE

DESPITE THE DEVELOPMENT CONTINUE ACCOUNTABILITY, DESPITE THE PROPER DEVELOPMENT OF CHECKS AND HERE IN THE COMMUNITY, WHAT WE WANT IS EXECUTIVE LEAD GOVERNMENT. WANT IN OTHER WORDS A GOVERNMENT WHICH TAKES DECISIONS, WHICH MAKES UP ITS MIND WHICH GIVES A LEAD ON ALL ISSUES INCLUDING THE MOST DIFFICULT OF CHRISTOPHER AND CONTENTIOUS. NOW, LONG BEFORE ANYBODY HAD HEARD PATTEN, THE COMMUNITY HAD BEEN DISCUSSING AND DEBATING THE QUESTION OF HOW WE COULD BEST PROVIDE FOR THE ELDERLY. I'M TOLD THAT THE HAS BEEN DEBATED IN THE COMMUNITY FOR THIRTY YEARS, I'M TOLD THAT DAVID TRENCH USED TO HAVE A VERY INTERESTING ANECDOTE ABOUT HADN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO WHAT HE WOULD HAVE LIKED IN RESPECT TO OLD PENSIONS, BUT I BETTER LEAVE THAT TO THE THIRTY YEAR RULE, BEFORE THAT BECOMES TOO PUBLIC, SO THE ISSUE HAS BEEN DEBATED OVER AND OVER AGAIN. IN EVERY PHILOSOPHICAL SENSE I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT WE SHOULD PROVIDE WE SHOULD AS MUST THROUGH THE PRIVATE SECTOR AS POSSIBLE, AND THAT LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF EXPOSURE THAT THE TAX PAYER HAS TO BEAR TO WELFARE SPENDING, BECAUSE I WOULD NOT WISH SEE THIS COMMUNITY GO ANYWHERE NEAR IN THE SORT OF WELFARE BLACKHOLE DOWN WHICH ECONOMIES ARE DISAPEARING SOME OF THE OECD COUNTRIES, THAT MUST BE COMMON GROUND TO ALL OF

HOW HE AGE

US.

/THE QUESTION

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