XN000022-1994-11-09 — Page 26

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1994

SHW SPEAKS ON OLD AGE PENSION SCHEME

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FOLLOWING IS THE SPEECH BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS KATHERINE FOK, IN THE MOTION DEBATE ON OLD AGE PENSION SCHEME AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT (WEDNESDAY):

MR PRESIDENT,

OF

AS A CARING AND RESPONSIBLE GOVERNMENT, WE ARE FULLY AWARE THE CHALLENGES AHEAD OF US AS OUR POPULATION AGES. VERY POSITIVE STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO IMPROVE OUR WELFARE SYSTEM FOR OUR ELDERLY CITIZENS AND SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL RESOURCES WILL BE INJECTED TO IMPROVE OUR SERVICES FOR THEM.

WE ALREADY HAVE A GOOD FOUNDATION OF SERVICES FOR THE CARE OF OUR ELDERLY POPULATION. IN 1994-95, WE WILL BE SPENDING $6.8 BILLION ON SERVICES FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE. NOT TOO LONG AGO, NEW LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE SAFETY STANDARDS AND CARE FOR OLD PEOPLE LIVING IN RESIDENTIAL HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY WAS PASSED BY THIS COUNCIL. WHEN THE LEGISLATION COMES INTO FORCE IN 1995, THE SAFETY AND CARE OF MORE THAN 17 000 ELDERLY PEOPLE LIVING IN THESE HOMES WILL BE GREATLY ENHANCED.

APART FROM THE ON-GOING PROGRAMMES, WE ARB MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO ENSURE THAT OUR WELFARE SYSTEM IS ABLE TO MEET THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHALLENGES THAT WE ARE GOING TO FACE. THE GOVERNMENT'S GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR ELDERLY CITIZENS SO THAT THEY CAN ENJOY A COMFORTABLE AND DIGNIFIED OLD AGE. THAT IS WHY THE WORKING PARTY ON CARE FOR THE ELDERLY WAS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR TO CONDUCT A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON EXISTING POLICIES AND SERVICES FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE. IN MY POLICY COMMITMENTS WHICH WAS PUBLISHED LAST MONTH, I UNDERTOOK TO IMPLEMENT IN FULL ALL 71 RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKING GROUP. THIS MEANS THAT WE WILL BE SPENDING A TOTAL OF $535 MILLION IN RECURRENT EXPENDITURE BETWEEN 1995 AND THE YEAR 2000 AND ANOTHER $327 MILLION IN CAPITAL COSTS IN IMPROVING SERVICES FOR OUR ELDERLY.

AS

TO PROVIDE BETTER SUPPORT FOR OLDER PERSONS AND THE FAMILIES SO TO ALLOW THEM TO GROW OLD IN THEIR HOME ENVIRONMENT WITH MINIMUM DISRUPTION, COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES WILL BE IMPROVED. FOR THOSE WHO CAN NO LONGER BE CARED FOR AT HOME, A FULL RANGE OF RESIDENTIAL CARE SERVICES WILL BE PROVIDED TO IMPROVE THE CONTINUUM OF INSTITUTIONAL CARE.

THERE HAVE BEEN REPEATED CALLS FROM MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL FOR THE STANDARD RATE FOR THE ELDERLY UNDER THE COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE (CSSA) SCHEME TO BE INCREASED TO $2,300. THE CSSA SCHEME IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEM FOR THE VULNERABLE AND DISADVANTAGED. THE CASH ASSISTANCE PROVIDED UNDER THE SCHEME SHOULD NOT BE SEEN IN ISOLATION. IT IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE "SAFETY NET" WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE FOR THOSE WHO ARE FINANCIALLY VULNERABLE. FOR OUR CSSA CLIENTS, THIS "SAFETY NET" COVERS A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF SOCIAL SERVICES INCLUDING CASH ASSISTANCE, FREE MEDICAL CARE, COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING AND OTHER FREE PROGRAMMES ORGANISED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS.

/THERE IS