XN000022-1995-11-22 — Page 5

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SHW on unemployment assistance scheme

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mrs Katherine Fok, at the motion debate on an Unemployment Assistance Scheme in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Mr President,

We have the greatest sympathy for the hardship and trauma faced by the unemployed, many of whom may be facing unemployment for the first time in their working lives. I think we know what these people want - and it is not a cash handout. They want jobs. And, as has just been explained by my colleague, the Secretary for Education and Manpower, that is precisely what we are trying to provide. However, we also need to look after those in need. At the end of the day, if new employment is not found, our 'safety net' is firm and remains in place. The CSSA will always provide the ultimate support to meet basic needs and, indeed, we have recently proposed significant increases in CSSA payments to adults including those who are unemployed.

Mr President, the Motion and the amendments proposed to it all refer to a failure of the current Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme to relieve the immediate financial needs of the unemployed. Failure implies the Scheme is not doing something it was supposed to do. But the CSSA Scheme was not designed to meet the immediate needs of the unemployed, regardless of their financial means. Unemployed persons can and do receive CSSA payments, but they do so only if their income is unable to meet their recognised needs and if the value of their assets does not exceed the permitted limit.