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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam, at a media session on the Old Age Living Allowance at the lobby of West Wing, Central Government Offices, Tamar, today (October 25):
Reporter: Mrs Lam, what do you think of DAB's proposals? Why do you say that the motion of adjournment is unnecessary?
Chief Secretary for Administration: I have told LegCo members from the DAB that we have no room to adjust the asset limits for the Old Age Living Allowance, and the arguments for no room to do that have been rehearsed very well by myself and Mr (Matthew) Cheung (Secretary for Labour and Welfare) over the last month or so. What I have appealed to them is since this is a relief measure that will provide immediate help to elders in need, I hope very well that they will understand the situation and give us their support. But at the same time I give them the assurance that the Government's work in helping elders in need in Hong Kong will not stop after the approval of the Old Age Living Allowance. We have heard views about the income and asset limits, we have heard views about whether $2,200 will meet the needs of all the elders in need. Many of these issues are going to be addressed in a task force to be set up under the new Commission on Poverty, which will categorically deal with how we could enhance Hong Kong's social security and Hong Kong's retirement protection in order to better help our elders in need. And to signify the importance of this area of work, I myself will chair this task force and Matthew will be the vice-chairman of this task force. So together with other experts and academics we want very much to use this task force to continue deliberations in a very important area of work.
As far as the adjournment debate is concerned, my understanding is that some members of the Legislative Council propose to use an adjournment motion to put a stop to their deliberations and perhaps the voting on this funding application from Government at tomorrow's Finance Committee. What I have now proposed to the chairman of the Finance Committee, in recognition of the importance we attach to our working relationship with the Legislative Council, is we are asking for a special Finance Committee meeting on or before October 30, that is next Tuesday. In other words, tomorrow's FC meeting is not the ultimate meeting to vote on this funding application, so I really see no need for the meeting to adjourn and forgo the six hours, which could be used by members and by the officials to further address all the issues relating to the Old Age Living Allowance.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Thursday, October 25, 2012
Issued at HKT 18:04
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