7
370
CONFIDENTIAL
SKBY 161045Z
CONFIDENTIAL
FM HONG KONG 160958Z MAR 79
TO IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
TELNO.363 OF 16 MARCH,
INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG GOVT OFFICE LONDON,
НКК 23411
INDEX
។
*STRY RO. 51
1 6 MAR 1979
AMI
HONGAID TELNO.291: PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS. No
1. THE INFORMATION REQUSTED IS AS FOLLOWS:
+
20/3
D
S
(1) -- (3) THE PUBLIC ASSISTAANCE (P.A) SCHEME IS MEANS-TESTED AND IS DESIGNED TO BRING THE INCOME FOR A SINGLE PERSON OR A FAMILY
UP TO A LEVEL AT WHICH ESSENTIAL NEEDS CAN BE MET. IN ADDITION TO THE BASIC SCALE, SUPPLEMENTARY ASSISTANCE MAY BE GIVEN TO COVER RENT, SCHOOL EXPENSES, SPECIAL DIETS, AND OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES. AN OLD AGE SUPPLEMENT IS PAID TO PEOPLE OVER 60 WHO DO NOT RECEIVE
THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE (SEE BELOW) AND THERE IS ALSO AN ANNUAL LONG TERM SUPPLEMENT, PAYABLE TO RECIPIENTS WHO HAVE RELIED ON P,A FOR MORE THAN TWELVE MONTHS, TO MEET EXTRA COSTS FOR REPLACEMENT OF HOUSEHOLD WARES AND DURABLE GOODS% RATES ARE UP-DATED REGULARLY, MOST RECENTLY ON 1 FEBRUARY 1978: THE NEXT ONE IS DUE SHORTLY, NON-MEANS-TESTED SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES ARE PAID TO TWO VULNERABLE GROUPS, NAMELY THE ELDERLY AND THE SEVERELY DISABLED,
BOTH P.A AND THE SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES ARE NON-CONTRIBUTORY, A VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTORY SYSTEM, TO PROVIDE FOR SICKNESS INJURY RETIREMENT AND DEATH BENEFIT WAS PROPOSED IN A GREEN PAPER IN 1977, BUT NO DECISION HAS YET BEEN TAKEN ON ITS IMPLEMENTATION.
COMMENTS ON SPECIFIC POINTS RAISED ARE:
(1)(A) UNEMPLOYMENT: THE P.A SCHEME WAS EXTENDED IN 1977 TO
INCLUDE THE ABLE-BODIED WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED.
(B) SICKNESS ALLOWANCE: THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE REQUIRES EMPLOYERS TO GRANT PAID SICK LEAVE UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 36 DAYS.
WE PLAN TO INCLUDE A SUPPLEMENT FOR THE PARTIALLY DISABLED WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR P.A TO RECEIVE AN ADDITIONAL SUM OVER THE BASIC RATES. THE PRESENT CHARGE FOR EACH CONSULTATION AT GOVERNMENT_ CLINICS (INCLUDING MEDICINE) IS ONE DOLLAR.
(C) CHILD ALLOWANCE: THERE IS NO CHILD ALLOWANCE AS SUCH BUT AN ALLOWANCE IS MADE FOR CHILUREN IN THE CALCULATION OF SALARIES
TAX AND PERSONAL ASSESSMENT. THERE ARE ALSO CONCESSIONARY STUDENT FARES AND A SCHOOL MEDICAL SCHEME WHICH OFFERS A BASIC
MEDICAL SERVICE FOR A SMALL ANNUAL FEE.
CONFIDENTIAL
/(D) RENT
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