70pc of Hong Kong elderly want a pension with no strings attached
Final demands and opinions issued on final day of government’s public consultation on retirement protection plan
A survey of Hongkongers who have recently retired or are about to shows a clear preference for a pension that is not means-tested, as various groups submitted final demands and opinions on the last day of a public consultation.
Over 70 per cent of the 115 elderly people questioned – many living in squatter housing – deemed the government’s plan of establishing a means-tested scheme with an asset limit of HK$80,000 as unacceptable. Social workers said this was a group whose views were not often canvassed as their access to consultation forums and meetings was limited.
Caritas social worker Wesley Man Siu-chun said: “We have two suggestions: one is to abandon all plans for any means-tested pension plans. Second is to work out how to implement a universal scheme.”
Former security guard Ivy Lo Wah-ying, 67 and long-time petrol station cashier Kwong Tat-on, 68, both had less than HK$100,000 in their Mandatory Provident Funds when they retired.
Lo was especially angry about the government’s retirement protection plan.
“If you don’t want to do retirement protection, then open up opportunities for us elderly to work,” she said.
