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.”