GR239
CYPHER/CAT A
FM FCO #61983Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
pl. 62
10 FEB 1975
NKK 3/548/2
TO ROUTINE HONG KONG TEL NO 693 OF 6 FEBRUARY.
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION - LORD BROCKWAY,
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LAST
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(34)
1. IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS ON 4 FEBRUARY, DURING SUPPLEMENTARIES FOLLOWING HIS QUESTION ON REFORMS IN HONG KONG (OUR TEL NO 63). LORD BROCKWAY SAID INTER ALIA 221 HAVE IN MY HAND A LETTER FROM THE WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF THE GOVERNMENT OF HONG KONG WHICH SAYS THAT NO PERSON BETWEEN 15 AND 55 YEARS OF ACE WHO IS ABLE-BODIED IS PERMITTED TO HAVE AN UNEMPLOYMENT ALLOWANCE, ALTHOUGH UNEMPLOYMENT NOW REACHES 200,000 IN THAT AREA''. HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT HE HAD RECEIVED LETTERS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TO WAIT FOR THREE MONTHS BEFORE THEY HAVE RECEIVED BENEFITS UNDER THE PRESENT SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS'', (FULL TEXT FROM
'HANSARD' FOLLOWS BY BAG).
2. LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS MAY WISH TO WRITE TO LORD BROCKWAY ABOUT THESE TWO POINTS, AND WE SHOULD WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS ON THEM, WE HAVE A 1972 COPY OF A BOOKLET ON THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME ISSUED BY SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WHICH SETS OUT THE CONDITIONS OF ELIGIBILITY FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE. THIS SUGGESTS THAT TECHNICALLY, LORD BROCKWAY MAY BE CORRECT IN HIS FIRST ASSERTION. IN PARTICULAR, SECTION 2(2) WOULD SEEM TO EXCLUDE MOST ABLE-BODIED, UNEMPLOYED PERSONS AGED BETWEEN 15 AND 55 WHO LIVE ALONE FROM ANY DIRECT OR
INDIRECT PUBLIC ASSISTANCE BENEFIT,
3. IT WOULD ALSO BE USEFUL IF YOU COULD LET US KNOW:-
(1) YOUR LATEST ESTIMATE OF UNEMPLOYED PERSONS IN HONG KONG.
1) THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF TIME IT TAKES TO PROCESS AN APPLICATION FROM ANYONE WHO APPLIES FOR PUBLIC ACSISTANCE.
CALLAGHAN
FILES
HKIOD (4) OLA
T/LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS
SIR D WATSON
CHEDA HILIL 18/11 стильний
CONFIDENTIAL
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