SOCIAL WELFARE
There will probably be pressure from MPs and the TUC for
various social welfare schemes to be introduced in Hong Kong, i.e. sickness benefits, unemployment insurance, free medical treatment etc.
The Governor said in his despatch "Welfare State: Hong Kong Style" that Hong Kong's idea of a welfare state was quite different
Me
to that of the UK.am/added that the bulk of the population in Hong Kong would be against a contributory scheme.
Present Position
A White Paper "Social Welfare in Hong Kong
The Way Ahead"
sets out a programme for social welfare development for the years 1973-78. This states that social security will be provided in
3 ways:
i)
ii)
Public Assistance Scheme
GAME
which is capable of expansion
or adaptation to meet any unforeseen contingency. Rates
under this scheme are now 62% above the base rate of
April 1972.
Flat rate non-contributory non-means-tested allowances
to "vulnerable groups". The first stage of this scheme,
the Disability and Informity Allowance Scheme, intro-
duced 18 months ago, is already providing regular
allowances for 50,000 elderly and severely disabled
persons.
iii) Emergency relief.
EDUCATION
There may well be criticism that there is no compulsory
education and that many children leave school at the age of 12
in Hong Kong because secondary school places are not available
to them.
Present Position
A White Paper has just been published. The main measure
is that there will be assisted secondary school places for all
primary school leavers by 1979.
/NARCOTICS
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.