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SLW on Work Incentive Transport Subsidy Scheme (with photos)
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     Following is a transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, on the Work Incentive Transport Subsidy (WITS) Scheme after visiting the WITS Division of Labour Department this afternoon (September 21):

Reporter: There are criticisms that the application form is far too complicated for those low-income earners and you are also asking the family members' income as well, are you trying to discourage them to apply the scheme?

Secretary for Labour and Welfare: That is certainly not our intention. As you know, the basis for application is on a household basis, and we have adopted a minimal approach.  In other words, we will only ask them to provide the essential information required.  Otherwise, we won't ask them for any extra information. We believe strongly in user-friendliness. As a starting point, the whole thing is designed for the applicants' convenience , it is really important.  But you must realise that we must have some basic information to facilitate our vetting, otherwise it is difficult to vet the application. After all, it is the taxpayers' money that we are accountable for.  But we would strike a balance between policing and user-friendliness.  I think we've struck a right balance.  If following implementation, we discover that there is certain information that is unnecessary, where there is room for improvement, I promise you we stand ready to improve it.  If there is room for improvement, we will certainly do it from the point of user-friendliness.  But the important thing is to get this scheme off the ground quickly.  We are talking about thousands of people likely to be benefited and should benefit quickly.  The longer we ponder over the mechanic, it won't be to anybody's advantage.  That is why I think it is important to kick off the scheme as soon as possible on October 3, and then in the light of experience, adjust it,improve upon it, as time goes.

Reporter: When will the review be done?

Secretary for Labour and Welfare: Originally, the scheme will subject to an overall review in three years' time. I promised to include an interim review in a year's time.  Now I promise today, let me make a very very strong promise, that we will review the scheme, of course on the mechanic of the scheme to ensure it is smooth. Once it is implemented in the first three to four months' time.  In the light of experience in the first three to four months' time, if there are problems that we can correct, we will certainly ratify them.  The whole scheme is designed to benefit the working poor, particularly to encourage people to join employment and also ease the financial burden of the low-income households on commuting to and from work. That is our intention.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Issued at HKT 22:01

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