XN000022-1994-10-26 — Page 49

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1994

ONE MEMBER EXPRESSED CONCERN ON THE QUALITY OF OUR TERTIARY EDUCATION. THIS IS INDEED AN IMPORTANT SUBJECT. THE QUALITY OF OUR TERTIARY EDUCATION IS OF CONCERN NOT ONLY TO ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, BUT ALSO TO PROFESSIONAL ORGANISATIONS AND EMPLOYERS. FOR HONG KONG TO MAINTAIN ITS INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS AND TO UPHOLD ITS

IN

IT PRODUCING QUALITY GRADUATES AND PROFESSIONALS, REPUTATION

IS ESSENTIAL THAT WE MAINTAIN AN ACCREDITATION AND QUALITY CONTROL SYSTEM THAT HAS CREDIBILITY AT THE INTERNATIONAL LEVEL.

IN THIS RESPECT, WE SHARE A MEMBER'S RESERVATIONS ABOUT BLANKET APPROVALS OF ACADEMIC QUALIFICATION REGARDLESS OF APPLICABILITY. WE

TO LEAVE IT TO THE JUDGEMENT AND SHOULD CONTINUE

OF KNOWLEDGE

OUR PROFESSIONAL BODIES AND ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS, WHICH HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB OVER THE PAST YEARS, TO LOOK AFTER THE QUALITY AND REPUTATION OF OUR PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS AND ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS.

OLD AGE PENSION SCHEME

21 MEMBERS HAVE SPOKEN ON THE OLD AGE PENSION SCHEME. THIS IMPORTANT SUBJECT RIGHTLY DESERVES SO MUCH ATTENTION. SINCE THERE WILL BE A MOTION DEBATE ON IT VERY SOON, MY RESPONSE WILL BE BRIEF.

WE SHALL NOT LOOK BACK ON THE CASE FOR COMPULSORY PROVIDENT FUNDS, BE THEY PRIVATELY-RUN OR CENTRAL. BECAUSE PROVIDENT FUNDS PROVIDE NO RELIEF TO THOSE OUTSIDE THE WORKFORCE. BECAUSE PROVIDENT FUNDS CANNOT MEET THE NEEDS OF THE AGEING POPULATION SOON ENOUGH. BECAUSE PROVIDENT FUNDS, EVEN AFTER DECADES, ONLY PROVIDE MEAGRE PROTECTION TO THOSE WITH LOW INCOME.

AND

THE OLD AGE PENSION SCHEME IS FOUNDED ON THE RATIONALE THAT, AS A CARING AND AFFLUENT SOCIETY, HONG KONG SHOULD NO LONGER RISK AN INCREASING PROPORTION OF OUR ELDERLY SLIPPING INTO POVERTY. THE AIM IS TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE, THROUGH INCOME PROTECTION, FOR THAT LARGE GROUP OF ELDERLY PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST THEIR EARNING CAPACITY. WHILE THEY MAY NOT BE ENTIRELY WITHOUT MEANS, MANY ARE LIVING AT THE MARGINS OF LOW INCOME AND CONSTANTLY FACE THE PRESSURE OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP. WE ACCEPT THAT THE MODEST LEVEL OF PROVISION PROPOSED IN THE SCHEME WILL NOT PROVIDE RELIEF FOR ALL, BUT IT WILL HELP TO EASE ECONOMIC HARDSHIP FOR MANY.

THE SCHEME WILL NOT BANKRUPT OUR ECONOMY. BECAUSE TOTAL PROVISION PENSION PAYMENT AMOUNTS TO LESS THAN 1.5% OF GDP. BECAUSE PENSION PAYMENT WILL BE IRON-LINKED TO CONTRIBUTION INCOME THUS PREVENTING INDISCRIMINATE INCREASES IN BENEFITS. AND BECAUSE AT AN ESTIMATED AVERAGE CONTRIBUTION OF $180 PER MONTH, IT IS AN EXTREMELY MODEST PRICE FOR THE WORKING COMMUNITY TO PAY.

LABOUR IMPORTATION AND RETRAINING

OUR LABOUR

QUITE A LARGE NUMBER OF MEMBERS HAVE COMMENTED ON IMPORTATION POLICY. THOSE FROM THE LABOUR CONSTITUENCY CALLED FOR THE SCHEME TO BE SCRAPPED. THOSE IN THE BUSINESS SECTOR ASKED FOR ITS IMMEDIATE EXPANSION. THIS IS IN ITSELF A REFLECTION OF THE BALANCE THAT GOVERNMENT HAS TO STRIKE.

DIFFICULT

/THE FACT