2. LEGCO SPEECH
a) Junior Secondary Education
The Governor announced that by September 1980 three years of secondary education (ie. up to the age of 15) would be free and compulsory for all children. The introduction of this
proposal will start in September 1978.
b) Child Labour
The educational development mentioned above should go a long way to end the abuse of child labour. The Governor also announced that the prohibition on employing children would be extended to all undertakings: at present it applies only to industrial ones. This will be phased in over the same period as the education proposals.
c) Public Assistance Scheme
A Green Paper is to be published suggesting that the present Scheme should be extended to provide extra help for long term recipients, that - people aged 60 and above who do not already receive infirmity allowance should be eligible for assistance and that appeal boards should be established.
d) Old Age and Disability Allowance
The Old Age Allowance was formerly known as the "infirmity allowance". The Green Paper referred to above proposes a reduction in the qualifying age from 75 to 70, that the allowance be extended to those living in institutions and that there should be a special allowance for those unable to work for a long period (18 months) who are eligible for neither dis- ability allowance nor public assistance.
e) Contributory Insurance Scheme
The same Green Paper will also propose the introduction of a semi voluntary contributory scheme providing insurance cover against sickness, injury and death and also a small retirement benefit. The proposed levy is 4% shared equally between employer and employee.
While the scheme does not go as far as we had hoped (we wanted a non-contributory scheme covering employment and a decent retirement benefit) it was drafted by Mr Heppell of the DHSS and we are therefore in a weakened negotiating position.
f) Labour Legislation
A Bill on compensation for asbestosis and silicosis has been promised. Also promised were amendments to the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance to require employers to meet medical
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