TNAG-1065-FCO40-1315-Development-of-Hong-Kong-social-services-1981 — Page 18

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The Social Welfare Advisory Committee was also consulted in April 1978 and advised that if there was to be such a scheme, it should be made compulsory with preferably no provision for contracting-out. In general, members felt that further examination of the levels of benefits and consultations with the affected sectors was necessary before a firm decision to proceed was taken.

Appraisal of Green Paper Proposals

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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 in conjunction with the Home Affairs Department and in consultation with other App. III interested Government departments. A summary of findings is at Appendix III.

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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 (but presumably without increased contributions by employees). 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 contributions should be compulsory against 48% who disagreed: the balance of 11% was indifferent. Another relevant factor was the apparent lack of interest in insurance: only 4. 2% had life insurance policies, 1.5% bought medical insurance and 1% sickness insurance. So it would seem to be a matter for conjecture as to the degree of actual support any voluntary contributory scheme would receive, though it would also appear that such support would be dependant on the benefits likely to be available and on the information about it getting through to the individual worker.

G.S. 166

CONFIDENTIAL

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