Despite not having formally announced that he will run for the post of chief executive, Henry Tang Ying-yen yesterday ended a week filled with very public meet-and-greet sessions by saying he backed the introduction of a universal pension scheme. Retirement should be a time of dignity, he said.
Speaking at a forum involving an array of groups pushing for social justice, Tang said: 'I think a universal pension scheme is necessary. After a person retires, their life should be dignified ... But, today, many elderly people are not living such a life.'
However, the former chief secretary stopped short of giving further details to the 200-strong audience at the event, organised by the Council of Social Service.
'A universal pension, by itself, is a simple term, but everyone's interpretation varies,' Tang said, and more discussion was needed.
Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen said in his policy address 10 days ago that such retirement protection was impractical given middle-class reluctance to finance it.
Tang said he had finished writing a population policy report in his last days as chief secretary, before he quit last month, but the government had yet to publish it.