XN000022-1994-10-31 — Page 5

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MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1994

QUESTION: WHAT WILL THE GOVERNMENT DO IN THE NEXT STAGE FOR THE OLD AGE PENSION SCHEME AS TODAY IS THE END OF THE CONSULTATION BUT QUITE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY HAVE STATED THEIR OPPOSITIONS TO THE SCHEME?

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GOVERNOR: THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF COMMENTS ON THE SCHEME WITH PEOPLE CRITICISING IT AND SOME PEOPLE SAYING YET THEY THINK IT VERY GOOD THING. I BELIEVE THAT MOST OF THE SURVEYS WHICH HAVE BEEN DONE ON PUBLIC OPINION SUGGEST THAT THERE'S A HUGE MARGIN IN FAVOUR OF THE SCHEME BUT WHAT WE NOW HAVE TO DO IS TO LOOK AT ALL THE DIFFERENT PROPOSALS THAT HAVE BEEN PUT FORWARD AND SEE HOW CLOSELY THEY COME TO OUR PRIORITY WHICH IS TO DEAL WITH NEEDS AMONG THE ELDERLY AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE AND AT AS REASONABLE AND PRUDENT A COST AS POSSIBLE. AND WHEN WE CONSIDER THOSE VARIOUS PROPOSALS MADE BY OTHER PEOPLE, WE WILL COME FORWARD WITH OUR OWN CONSIDERED VIEW ON THE BEST WAY FORWARD AND THEN WE WILL WANT TO DISCUSS THAT WITH SENIOR OFFICIALS IN THE PRC BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THIS IS PRINCIPALLY A SOCIAL POLICY FOR THE

FUTURE AND IT VERY MUCH AFFECTS THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SAR GOVERNMENT IN THE FUTURE. I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY DOUBT ABOUT THAT. BUT OUR VIEW, SINCE WE BELIEVE IN STRONG EXECUTIVE-LED GOVERNMENT THAT UNDERSTANDS OTHER PEOPLE DO AS WELL, OUR VIEW IS THAT THESE AREN'T PROBLEMS WHICH WILL BE EASIER TO SOLVE IF WE PUT THEM OFF INTO THE FUTURE. THEY WILL BE MORE DIFFICULT

BECAUSE THE NUMBER OF ELDERLY PEOPLE IS INCREASING ALL THE TIME AND THIS COMMUNITY, I THINK, WANTS TO BE FAIR TO ITS ELDERLY. THANKS MUCH.

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HK SHOULD SPEAK UP TO MAKE ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS' A REALITY

THE DEPUTY TO THE GOVERNOR, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID WITH THE TRANSITION REACHING ITS FINAL PHASE, THE PROPLE OF HONG KONG HAD ΤΟ SPEAK UP TO MAKE A REALITY OF THE "ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS" CONCEPT.

ADDRESSING A LUNCHEON OF THE FOREIGN CORRESPONDENTS' CLUB TODAY (MONDAY), MRS CHAN SAID: "OUR FUTURE IS WHAT WE MAKE OF IT.

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"IF WE UNITE TO MAKE OUR VOICES HEARD AND IF WE ALL SPEAK WITH VOICE FOR THE COMMON GOOD, THEN I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT, GIVEN THE COMMITMENT OF BOTH SOVEREIGN POWERS TO FAITHFULLY IMPLEMENT THE JOINT DECLARATION AND BASIC LAW, WE WILL MAKE A REALITY OF THE ONE COUNTRY, TWO SYSTEMS' CONCEPT," SHE SAID.

MRS CHAN DID NOT HAVE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT BRITAIN AND CHINA'S COMMITMENT TO THE HISTORIC TRANSFER OF SOVEREIGNTY. SHE BELIEVED THAT ALL WANTED IT TO SUCCEED.

HOWEVER, SHE KNEW THAT SECURING THE HIGH DEGREE OF AUTONOMY GUARANTEED TO THE TERRITORY BY THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW FOR THE LIFE OF THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION (SAR) GOVERNMENT WAS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN JUST BECAUSE THE JOINT DECLARATION AND THE BASIC LAW SAID IT WOULD.

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