1936-09-05 — Page 13

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH. SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1936.

WIDOWS' AND ORPHANS' PENSIONS IN HONGKONG

Hongkong Civil Servants Mulct Of Millions

Paid Into Fund GOVERNMENT MAY HAVE TO FIND MONEY IT SPENT

ADOPTION OF RECOMMENDATIONS MADE TO COLONIAL OFFICE BY COMMISSION WOULD COST COLONY MILLIONS

"Telegraph" Staff Representative

AST WEEK THE "TELEGRAPH" EXCLUSIVELY PUB-

LALISHED PERTINENT EXTRACTS FROM THE BULKY

this

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON PENSIONS TO WIDOWS AND ORPHANS OF OFFICERS OF THE COLONIAL SERVICE; WHICH WAS PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT RECENTLY. Extraordinary interest has been manifest in Report by members of the civil service in Hongkong.

Hundreds of these officials believe that the Widows' and Orphans' Scheme, as administered in Hongkong, is both unjust and unequitable They look to an adoption of the recommendations of the Committee as a means of ending a grievance that has existed since Government took over the Fund in 1908.

Previous to 1908 Widows and Orphans pensions in the Hongkong Civil Service was administered by Trustees,) to whom was paid four per cent. of the salaries of all civil servants participating in the Fund, plus a quota contribu- tion (amounting, in 1907, to about 50 per cent. of the total paid, by civil servants); ·

In 1908 the accumulated reserve of this Fund was $414,199. By enacting the Widows' and Orphans' Pension Scheme Ordinance, Government took over this reserve and since 1908 has paid all monies contributed by officers into! the Colony's revenue.

In this manner, Government has, in less than 30 years, accumulated a total of $1,829,618 excess receipts over expenditure in moneys paid by civil servants for their widows and orphans.

Including the $414,199 reserve in 1908, civil servants have, to June 30, 1936, contributed $4,304,249, to the Widows' and Orphans' Scheme. During the same period, Government has paid out only $2,474,631.

The excess receipts over expenditure has, however, not been allowed to accumulate. Every penny of this money has been spent by Government.

If the Secretary of State for the Colonies were to insist, as he did with reference to the 1908 Ordinance, on the adoption of the Central Fund recommended by the recent Commission, the Hong- kong Government could quite conceivably be called upon to im-. mediately find the excess contributions which, since 1908, have. each year been expended as part of the Colony's general revenues.

I understand from a reliable source that the Hongkong Guvern- ment is opposed to any alteration to the system that has been in existence in Hongkong during the past 28 years.

Such opposition is understandable, in view of the finances of this Colony, which might be seriously embarrassed if called upon to Buddenly, find the $1,829,618 of excess which has been spent by! Government as part of its revenue. IT is interesting to note from a reference to Hansurd that the Government of 1907-08 was opposed to the scheme which the Hongkong Government is now But contributions have likewise! loth to see ended. Despite Hong-grown.

Admittedly, payments to widows nd orphans of deceased members of the Hongkong civil service have grown enormously during this een- fiy

During Past Thirty Years

How Proposed Scheme For No Camp Central Pension Fund This Year Compares With Existing For H.K.

Scheme

ALTHOUGH Hongkong Government is stated to be opposed

to the recommendation of the Commission on Pensions to Widows and Orphans that a central Fund be catablished, there is always the possibility that the Secretary of State for the Colonics may insist on the repeal of the 1908 Ordinance which his predecessor forced on this Colony.

In that event the Hongkong Government may be called upon to find the surplus $1.829,618 which would ordinarily have accumulated under the old Fund, but which has instead been spent by the Government.

How does the proposed. Central Fund Scheme compare with the Scheme now in existence in Hongkong?

The "Telegraph" has prepared the following table. It shows that adoption of the proposed Central Scheme wili enormously benefit the Hongkong civil servant, almost half of whose annual contribution of four per cent of his total salary now goes to Government instead of to the Widows' and Orphans' Fund.

CENTRAL WIDOWS' AND ORPHANS' PENSION FUND SUGGESTED BY COMMIS-

SION.

THE Government

subsidy

T'

should take the form of a percentage of the officer's salary, pair, concurrently with the q- ver's own contribution.

M

*

If an ofleer is dismissed from contributions the Service, all should cease; a bachelor ur widower withoul pensionable children should receive a refund of his contributions without In- terest, subject to the deduction of any sitins owing lo the Government: and a married man or widower without pensionable children should remain register. ed for the pension earned by his past contribution

建

The refund to be granted in the case of a bachelor who dieş or leaves the Scheme or Fund from any cause should be his own past contributions with the addition of compound interest at 224 per cent.

"સ્મૃત

The pensionable age for boys shall be 21 years..

"We

蛾

are actuarially advised that there is reason to belleve that Colonies which have set up Schemes have been subsidising them to a considerably less ex- tent than was originally intend- ed"

"A Scheme to which no ac- turial review is periodically up- plied may operate to the serious disadvantage of the contributors."

In 1910 Government paid kong's objection, however, the out $9,440 as pensions and received

as officers' State for the $42,500

contribution was Secretary of

hotly opposed by Unofficial the estimated Members, This year (1835-36) Colonies ruled that the scheme receipts from officers' contributions must be adopted. What the Se are $307,000 and 'estimated payment cretary of State for the Colonies did in 1908 could quite conceivably be done in 1936.

The exirting Widows and Or phans' Pension Scheme has been

a bigger gold-mine to Government

tidy

opposing the proposal the to widows and orphans $240,000. Hon. Mr. Murray Stewart said: leaving Government with a surplus of

$127,006... HOW IT HAS GROWN

This

is how Government's al

than the surplus of $1,829,618 in-surplus has grown since 1908: dicates.

Previous to the passage of the 1908 Ordinance, which transferred the fund from Trustees to Govern- ment, the Hongkong Treasury sub- ! sidised the Fund to the extent of cent. of approximately 60 per officers' contributions, i... for $1 contributed by oilizers, Government paid 60 cents into the Fund.

every

Oferry'

Contributions

"The bargain proposed for civil servants by this Bill resembles the Three proverbial plg in the poke. entry and the prospect of receiving lakhs into general revenue in one

$30,000 per annum ond paying

WIDOWS AND ORPHANS" PENSION SCHEME IN FORCE IN HONGKONG

No Government Subsidy since 1908.

*

* An officer who, being bachelor or a widower without pensionable children, leaves the dismissal public service on shall, if he elects to discontinue being a contributor, receive back half the contributions which he has made without interest there- Any officer who relires or is deprived of his offee, but who is not granted a pension, may continue to contribute on the

receiving salary which he was

al the date of retirement or

Stich deprivation, at the same rate and subject to the same terms and conditions as if he had continued in the public service and con- inued to receive the salory which he was receiving at the rate of such retirement or de- privation.

*

*

*

. An

ofcer Who, being a bachelor, leaves the public ser- vice S

shall, if he elects to discontinue being a contributor, receive back half the contribu tions which he has made without interest thercon: and if an officer who is a bachelor dies while in the service one half of the contributions made by him shall be paid without interest to his legal rep

representative.

......

*

The allowance or pension to an orphant shall cease in the case of male at eighteen years, and in the case of a female on marriage or at the age of 21 years.

#!

No Government subsidy he Hongkong since 1008 Ordinance Wis passed. All contributions have been by civil servants.

*

**

+

been

No acturial review has applied in Hongkong since 1900.

LIVED

Volunteers

MONEY SHORTAGE - "Telegraph" Staff Reporter. FOR the first time in many

years, the Hongkong Volunteer Defence Corps will not go in to camp this winter.

Financial stringency and the extra expense incurred owing to the high number of non-British units who joined recently is stated to be res- ponsible for decision to can-

rel the usual training

arrangements in camp.

It is understood, however, that arrangements are being made for nlimited camping season, which will be attended by the Portuguese Company only.

Onc or two other units may also encamp with units of the Regular army later in the sea-

SON.

RADIO BROADCAST

Tourist Trophy Motor Car

Race Relay

DANCE MUSIC.

From Z. B. W, on a wavelength of 355 metres (845 kilocycles):

1.

4-7 p.m. Chinese Studio Concert, 7 p.m. Conchita Supervla (Mezzo- Soprano). Richard Crooks (Tenor). New Light Symphony Orchestra.

Orchestra-Two Symphonic Rhapsodies

(u) 1 pitch (Eric Coates); my lonely Caravan; (b) Bird Songs at Eventide; I heard you singing: 2. Songs-Danza (Granados): Granada

Conchita Supervia; (Albeniz)...

(Coleridge

Orchestra-Intermezzo

Taylor);

Prelude (Huyda W

3.

the Song My Song goes World: O Song Divine...... Richard Orchestra-Parade of Crooks) 5. the Tin Soldiers (Jessel); Policeman's Holiday (Ewing): 6. Song-Nirvana

Weatherly-Adamaian Music,

7.10

p.m. Nohen I

Sweet

Muolau Lani; Hawaiian Dream Girl-Waliz; Under- neath the Blue Hawaiian Skies; Howalian Porndise; Hawailan Hap- piness Medley.

Time, Weather and an-

p.m. nouncements.

8.03 gramme.

and his Company: Organ APART FOR

52 YEARS

p.nt. A Variety Pro-

Plano Solos-Medley No, 19.............. Charlle Kunz: Song-Little Village Vagabond Lover Green.....The (Tenor); Orchestra-Romance in Vocal-Oh Moonlight;

Susannah; We' rest at the end of the Trail.... The Rocky Mountaineers; Humerous Powell -Sondy the Farmer...Sandy

Salos--The King Steps out Medley.... .Reginald Foort; Song Pretty Girl is like a Melody ("The Great Ziegfeld"). Frances Day (Soprano); Band--Six Hits of the Day; Vocal-A Melody from the Sky....Les Allen and his Canadian Auckland (N.Z.), Aug. 20.

Bachelors: Orchestra- $5,000 against it for as long as the AFTER 52 years of married life, Aloht, Marimbal, Plano Solo-You Rods will continue the luck of the

never looked so beautiful....Carroll during which she had never

Gibbons: Bandt-Stars Over Broad- Fund-this advantage we can shared a home with her husband, way-Selection; Queen of Hearts- understand. Orphans

a woman has been granted a Selection. "Oh, but it is said that Govern- divorce. 7,000

ment isn't going to make anything 5,410

long out of this transfer, In the 11,700

The suit, which was undefended, run: the benefits are all in favour was brought on the ground of 12,009-

the contributors. 1, however, desertion, the present proposals highly advantageous to the contributors in Acting-Chief Justice Reed, in the Mrs. Annie Christina Clayden told the long run, they must be equally Supreme Court at Gisborne, that she disadvantageous to the Hongkong had been married for more than half Laxpayer.

a century to William Clayden, but had never lived with him.

There were no children of the mar- rings.

to Treasury.

Treasury's Payment to Widows &

1900

1910

*$ 414,109 42,500

$

1911

42,500

1912

45,500

1013

44,000

13,000

1914

44,000

21,200

1915

55,000

23,000

Since 1908 Government has not paid one cent towards pensions for Withdrawal widows and orphans.

1016

€2,800

20,000

1917

€1,650

25,700

1918

01,200

30,000

1919

£3,000

27,000

1920

1921

55,000 £9,000

40,900

you

1920 1922 Add this to the $1,820,018 sur-

1933 1923 Chat discover plus, and

1924 as a result of the Government

1926 of the present scheme, adoption has saved a total of $1,169,618 at of widows and or- the expense

53,6201

53 6211 60,803

00,000

1927

1820

* 170,000

phans.

1929

NO INTEREST

1030

152,300

175,000 100,000

1931

1932

1033 30-1,000

100,000 110,000 **120.000 135.000 213,000 250,000

244,000

1934 1935

200,000

+1930

250,000 210,000

of the subsidy has meant a saving to. Government, since 1908, of ap- proximately. $2,340,000.

Because Government has spent all this money as part of its General Revenue, no interest has accumul- ated, as would have been the case had the old Widows and Orphans' Pension Fund been in operation.

It is hard to understand what total: the credit of such a Fund would have nancy reached this year, if the puid in by civil servants, and by Government as subsidy, have been

01,000 87,000 107,000 123,000

90,000

of

are

She had earned her own living and had been using her malden. name ever since the wedding day, August 5, 1881.

"I am sure no taxpayer would be likely to grudgo whatever benefits are İlkely to peerue under this BIU to the wives of departed ofclats, but as so much hus been made of the llablilty of the Fund; so much said

as to the prospects of it be- coming insolvent unless taken over, that at least the Hongkong public may be pardoned for destring to a home for her, but had never done

know n little more definitely than they do at present the nature of the lability to which this Ordinance commits them.

SIR HENRY POLLOCK

Her husband, she said, had made repented promises that he would make

0.

willing to live with him.

She had always been ready and Corroborative evidence was called and Mr. Justice Reed granted a decree nisi, remarking that it was an astonishing caRG.

0.30

9 p.m. News und announcements from London.

0.20

Gems"White P.nt. Vocat Horse Inn" (Erik Chorell).

p.m. Dance Orchestra from the Hongkong Hotel Grill Room. 10 p.m. Big Ben from London, 11.15 pm. A Relay from London. A commentary on the Royal Auto- mobile Club Tourist Trophy Motor Car Race over the Ards Circuit near Belfast, Northern Ireland..

12.15 am. News and Announce- ments.

12.35. a.m. Close Down

SUNDAY'S PROGRAMME

John's

Relay From St. John's Cathedral

394,000

PIANOFORTE RECITAL 300,000

10.30-11.30 m.in. Morning Service 338,000

from the Union Church. 307,000

It is interesting to note that the

*11.30 a.m.-12.15 p.m. Morning Ser- ⚫ including $380,000 surplus of Ordinance was also opposed by the

vice from the Hop Yat Church old Fund.

Hon. Sir (then Mr.). Henry Pollock. In recognition of the servlees ren- (Chinese).

Far from being advantageous to dered to Indo-China by Mr. Kwok

12.15 p.m. "A Trial by Jury" the civil servant and beneficial to Chan, compradore of the Banque de (Sullivan)-Complete Opera sung by their widows and orphans, the 1908 L'Indochine, and Mr. Chan Sul-ky, the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company. Ordinance has proffed

12,48 p.m. the Hong- Manager of the Kwong lang ling

A Violin Recital by When the Widows' and Orphans'kong Government, and the Hong firm, Uie Emperor of Annam has Jascha Heifetz, 2%

per cent, compound interest, Pension Scheme was brought be kong Government alone to the ex-conferred on them the decoration of

(Continued on Page, 5.) the total would have been enormous: fore Legislative Council 1908 it|tent of at least $5,000,000.

Knight of the Dragon of Annam--

allowed

to accumulate.

At over

† Estimated.

UNOFFICIALS OPPOSED

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