C.S. 166
CONFIDENTIAL #
機密
XCC(77)65
Copy No. 34
Page 7 of 19
of 80
some part time work. Such an easement would be of particular value to a widow with young children who wanted to increase her income but did not want to, or could not, go out to work full time. It would also help an elderly person who would both like and benefit from a part-time occupation, but would naturally expect some financial return from his efforts.
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Accordingly, it is proposed that a single person, or family member should be able to retain half his earnings up to a maximum of $100 a month. The easement would not apply, however, to earnings received by a person aged between 15 and 60 who was fit and available for work or already in work. The proposal would only cost money for those cases where there were already earnings which were taken fully into account. And that cost might be largely, or even fully, offset by the proposal to encourage some recipients to do some work, and so reducing their assistance allowance.
Old age supplements (老人補助金)
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Honourable Members have already advised on the proposals in XCC(77)60 that persons aged over 60 receiving public assistance, who are not receiving any payment under the disability and old age allowance scheme, should receive an old age supplement of an amount equal to the old age allowance (currently $90 a month).
Age of retirement
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It is proposed to bring the age of retirement in the public assis- tance scheme into line with the proposed old age supplement by increasing it from 55 to 60. Retirement at 55 does not reflect general practice in Hong Kong where, according to the 1976 By-Census, 75% of men aged 55-64 were working. The effect will be to require those aged between 55 and 60 to register with the Employment Service as a condition of receiving assistance. The Director of Social Welfare however, would have discretion not to require a person aged over 55 to register, so that where it appeared unreasonable (because of a person's general health) to insist on registration, this requirement could be waived. The effect of this proposal has already been allowed for in the costings in this memo- randum, If not implemented, other costs e. g. for supplementary allowances would be slightly higher.
No further changes in public assistance
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Honourable Members will wish to know that the following points have been considered but no recommendations are made for change.
機密
CONFIDENTIAL #
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