In as. comman
Prakisure
и
cagaidis regressive, uk prise will not o subflic inhi advent Wrards
more progressive
suster MKS.shers
this new a
belky
reve cilt widid, osc. ill all make "with touchser
this
renes com is to on
سعرة
Havere sue Windshik
дом
ло
give to piss of contrib. sche gave comon. Brefit
7
SECRET
Page 90
fiscal measures to the Hong Kong Government from London; but Ministers will need to be satisfied that
the broad lines of fiscal policy are defensible
Page 90
here in London, ie that the burden of taxation increases should fall more heavily on those better able to bear it.
A fundamentos se
Ar de wesen
26. The benefits derived from changes in taxation should continue to be directed in the Hong Kong Government's programmes towards the less fortunate. In the case of social welfare benefits in cash these in Hong Kong are financed entirely from revenue and are quite different in character to thos in the UK National Insurance Scheme or even the Singapore Provident Fund, both of which are based on compulsory contributions.
objection, however, to a compulsory contributory, scheme in Hong Kong within the time scale of this Paper results from the (political uncertainty overhanging the Colony's future. We thus share the Governor's view that within the time available it is better to build upon the present non- contributory scheme financed from general revenue than to attempt to introduce a new one with a contributory element from empbyer/employee or both. In spite of improvements in recent years, there are weaknesses or gaps in Hong Kong's social security system: there is no direct provision for unemployment benefit; pensions are small and are available only to persons of 75 and over; sickness benefits, an employer's liability, does not extend beyond 24 days; and there is no pension for widows. To some extent, these deficiencies are met from public assistance but it is common ground that there is considerable room for improvement. The absence of a contributory element to any scheme of expanding Hong Kong's social security system, and therefore of the concept of entitlement points to a system based on the criterion of need. However, provided the payments are adequate to meet the normal hazards of an industrial urban society the criterion of need would, in our view, be defensible. Experience of the recent recession indi- cates that there is an urgent requirement to extend
unemployment benefit for industrial workers between
Page 90
Regend of 203
nor recessern to
have not us
tester
علم النصوص
entitlings, not
on need basis
This has adopme
P
More 90,0203
• SECRET"
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.