TNAG-0608-FCO40-756-Planning-paper-on-progress-made-on-social-security-in-Hong-K-1977 — Page 9

CODE 18-77

$S 10/76

CONFIDENTIAL

Reference.

Mr Hurst

OLA

G 65/G

8.0

Robd

1/4/78.

R+R

АКС

2017/2

1. During our discussions with Mr Heppell of the DHSS he mentioned that he had produced a report to supplement the Green Papers on Social Security and Welfare.

2. I attach a copy of that report, which we have received from Hong Kong. It deals largely with fairly minor points.

3. I should be grateful for your comments.

4

19 December 1977

Thompson K 245 Hong Kong & General Dept

Enc.

53

Mr Thompson, HKGD (K 245)

1.

Please refer to your minute of 19 December.

2. Mr Heppell's supplementary report is both encouraging and discouraging. I am glad to see that so much thought has been put into making the contributory sickness, injury and death benefit scheme attractive to employees (paragraphs 7 to 16).

3. I am disturbed however, by paragraphs 24 to 27 relating to the charging of fees for social welfare services. In sub-paragraphs a and b of paragraph 25 Mr Heppell appears to be arguing against the introduction of fees but in sub-paragraph c he leaves the way open to the introduction of "a modest level of charges". We should enquire in due course I think, what is contemplated in Hong Kong on this question of charging fees. You will also see that para. 26 introduces the idea of a means test though to be fair to Mr Heppell he goes on to advise against relating the fee to the circumstances of the individual. The example chosen in para. 27

/of

CONFIDENTIAL