TNAG-1609-FCO40-22131-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 157

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19.

Sir, the proposed improvements to the Public

Assistance Scheme which were outlined in your address at

the opening of the session were generally welcomed by

Members. Dr. Ho Kam-fai has however suggested that a Scap. children's supplement of $280 per month should be

introduced to help single parent families. We have

considered the possibility of such an allowance, but concluded that the most appropriate way of helping poor

families, particularly those with a large number of

children, would be to increase the basic rates for family

members and to introduce a meal allowance for children

attending full day school. In addition, there is a fee

assistance scheme for child care centres, and children

from single-parent families are given priority for entry

to these centres.

20.

* Both of which proposals were included in the recently introduced package.

The proposed improvements to the Old Age Allowance however

received a mixed reception. While the increased rates of

Old Age Allowance and the extension of the allowance to

the 65-69 age group have been generally welcomed, many

Members have reacted strongly against the proposed income

declaration, especially for those over 70.

21.

We have therefore reconsidered the proposals in the light of Members' comments and the views expressed by

the Social Welfare Advisory Committee, which was consulted

last week. As Members are aware the original proposal was

sk that present recipients of the Old Age Allowance would be