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is required, and proposals will shortly be put to

the Finance Committee. But apart from the question

undexed and are

of the scale of funds, whibh are and must be

constantly watched, the review has concluded that the

scheme is sound and well suited to Hong Kong's

requirements.

But in the light of experience the

Green Paper recommends some extensions and changes:

firstly, though adequate for those who have

to rely on it for comparatively short periods,

it is inadequate for those who have to rely

on it for very long periods when more than mere

subsistance will be required. A case in

point could be a widow unable to work because

of the ties of a young family. A supplement

is therefore proposed for those forced to

rely on Public Assistance for long periods at the front rati

amounting to $180 for a family or $90

for a single person.

Secondly, it is proposed that a supplement

at the front rat

of $90/should be paid to persons on Public

Assistance who are between the ages of 60 and

70. Their needs tend to be greater than their juniors and this change is strongly recommended

by social workers. This supplement for those

in need who are getting on it life, also makes

more acceptable the relatively high age at which

infirmity allowance is paid to which I will

refer again shortly.