CODE 18 - 77
RESTRICTED
акказвафором
K OFFICER
1973
LA/HK/2
HKK 234/1
Mr Upton HKGD
...EX
No
RE.
PA
Ac
QE
HONG KONG : GREEN PAPER ON SOCIAL SECURITY
1. I have no comments on the attached draft submission.
2.
At a meeting, however, with Mr Stewart yesterday, I mentioned the probability that the Governor will be particularly concerned with our views on social security when he comes to London in April and that we would need to prepare our ground carefully in view of the fact that he will be able to rely on the expert advice of Mr Heppell of the DHSS.
3. I therefore suggested at yesterday's meeting that we might ask the Government Actuary for further advice. As you know, the FCO view is that Hong Kong should have a social insurance scheme which provides for non-means tested unemployment benefit and a retirement benefit in addition, for example, to sickness, injury and death benefits. I believe we should ask the Government Actuary for his views on a compulsory contributory scheme in Hong Kong which would provide such benefits. I believe it would be more acceptable to opinion in Hong Kong if we went for flat rate contributions and benefits. Allowing for the fact that the average industrial wage last year of the Hong Kong worker was about HK$ 910 we might ask the Government Actuary to give an estimate of the scale of benefits based on a contribution of HK$ 50 a month ie. $25 from the employer and $25 from the employee. This would amount to a 5.6% contribution at the $910 level.
10 March 1978
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HR G Hurst Overseas Labour Adviser
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.