TNAG-2989-FCO40-3575-Future-of-Hong-Kong-constitutional-development-talks-betwee-1992 — Page 110

-For a family of four, the new rates plus rent and other additional

grants will provide a monthly income of $5,505.

-All means-tested benefits will continue to include additional

payments to meet monthly rent and other approved expenses.

And, of course, there will be the regular increases to cover inflation. All the figures I have mentioned will therefore be significantly higher next year in cash terms when the inflation adjustment is included.

49. I also hope that Members will approve the funding for an easing of restrictions on the ability of beneficiaries to receive Social Security payments outside Hong Kong. The current rule, allowing 45 days absence from the Territory for Public Assistance recipients and 119 days absence for Special Needs Allowance recipients before benefits are suspended, will be changed to 180 days for all elderly and disabled recipients. As a result, our elderly people who want to spend more time with their relatives in Southern China, for example, will be able to do so more easily than in the past.

50. The Secretary for Health and Welfare and the Director of Social Welfare will provide Members with full details of the improvements to the Social Security system on Saturday. There will be considerable administrative preparations to complete. Nevertheless, I have instructed that the new arrangements should come into effect from 1 July next year, subject, of course, to this Council's approval of the funding.

THE PATIENTS IN NEED

51. No one should doubt the Government's commitment to go on improving the quality of the medical services available to all sections of the community. Let me start with the general picture: in the next financial year, subject to this Council's approval, we shall increase the funds available to the Department of Health by 4% in real terms. The Hospital Authority will receive close to 8% extra. Between now and 1997, we plan to raise recurrent spending on health care, including hospital services, by 22% in real terms. These additional resources will enable us to provide an additional 4 200 hospital beds, to open 13 new clinics and to expand 11 existing clinics.

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