TNAG-2451-FCO40-3568-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-1992 — Page 96

24-DCT-1992 09:54

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RETIREMENT SCHEME

he press conference by SEM John Chan to announce details of a consultation paper on compulsory retirement protection scheme was accorded wide coverage by the media. Mr Chan was noted to have said that the Government had reservations on becoming the final guarantor of the scheme because it would mean the possibility of callable equity and that people involved in the monitoring of the funds would be less cautious.

Labour groups and Legco members were noted to have criticised the paper as not comprehensive enough. UDHK and CRC representatives would deliver a letter signed by some 45 Legco members to Government House next week, urging the government to be the final guarantor. However, an independent member, Eric Li, who had not signed the letter, said that should the government become the final guarantor, the scheme would become a central provident fund scheme and would be relieving employers of their responsiblity. He also noted that this kind of commitment would become another kind of callable equity and that the Chinese side would not agree. Legislators Tam Yiu-chung and Pang Chun-hoi criticised the paper for ignoring the views of the workers, adding that the scheme had failed to protect the interests of the self-employed and elderly workers who would soon retire. This view was shared by Leung Fu-wah of the HK Federation of Trade Unions. The employee's representative of the LAB, Li fung-ying, said that the scheme had failed to ensure the employees would be able to take back their share of contribution.

G-L COMMITTEE

Sir David Ford's briefing to Legco meeting on the government-Legco Committee was noted by the papers, with some of the headlines noting that the briefing had failed to dispel the members' worries. Sir David was noted to have said that the proposed G-L Committee would have no constitutional status and would not become a super Legco" or a "mini- Exco". He said that the government would be happy to reconsider the number of Legco members to be included in the committee. He added that if members felt that the idea did not work, the government would not wish to go ahead with it. Press reports noted that a discussion on the nominations to the committee had been postponed and that the scheduled first meeting of the committee on November 5 might not be possible.

CRC's Gilbert Leung said that members were not satisfied with Six David's briefing, saying that there was no mention of the responsibilities of the committee. Another CRC member, Lau Wah-sum, said that even with the increase in membership, many of the independent members could still not be able to join the committee. Independent legislator Eric Li questioned that if the committee was only concerned with procedures, why was the proposal of its setting up included under the constitutional sector of the policy address. UDHK's Yeung Sum said that if most members were against the idea, UDHK would not insist. Vincent Cheng suggested the model of Omelco House ccommittee could be adopted instead.

REFERENDUM

The papers noted that Legco would debate on the issue of referendum on November 4. UDHK would organise a signature campaign on November 1 to seek public support for it. However, both ADPL's Frederick Fung and CRC's Gilbert Leung said that it would not the right time to hold a .referendum now. Frederick Fung was worried that it would split the

community. Fred Li of Meeting Point also said that the issue had to be further considered.

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