TNAG-0789-FCO40-993-Development-of-social-policy-in-Hong-Kong-proposed-contribut-1978 — Page 59

Public Response

4.

CONFIDENTIAL

Government has assessed the response to the Green

Paper proposal in two different ways. In the first place,

a special opinion survey was commissioned of selected employers

and employees. The sample frame consisted of 560 establishments

in the manufacturing; wholesale and retail; restaurants and

hotels; finance, insurance, real estate and business services,

and 2,089 employees in various occupations and industries.

The survey was carried out by the University of Hong Kong

under the overall direction of the Home Affairs Department

in consultation with other interested Government departments.

A summary of findings is at Annex B.

5.

Given the limitations of such surveys, the following

generalisations derived from the findings must be treated

with caution.

There was general agreement among those asked

that there was only very limited coverage at present for

employees in respect of sickness, injury and death. The

general feeling was that it was right for the proposed

scheme to concentrate on the provision of sickness and

injury benefits. More importance, however, was attached

to retirement benefits than death benefits. The level of

contributions to the scheme (2% employer, 2% employee) was

generally regarded as about right but there were suggestions

for a higher level of benefits. Views also differed as to

whether employers should pay more or all of the 4%. The

main difference of view that emerged was whether the scheme

should be compulsory for employees or not. Of the employers

interviewed in the survey, 35.8% thought that contributions

should be compulsory for employees against 47.5% who thought

not. Of the employees interviewed, 41% thought that their

CONFIDENTIAL

/contributions