Support grows for Leung's old age allowance scheme
With the DAB now saying it will 'not oppose' a means-tested scheme, the government should have enough votes for the measure to pass
The government appears to have won crucial support for its monthly HK$2,200 Old Age Living Allowance schemeafter the biggest pro-establishment party softened its stance yesterday, saying it would reconsider the welfare minister's latest proposal of an annual review.
The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong (DAB), which holds 12 votes in Friday's Legco financial committee meeting, said last night it was "not opposing" the measure, as negotiations continued among political parties on whether to support the proposal.
On Wednesday, the party said it might abstain after Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying insisted the government would not raise the asset limits for beneficiaries.
DAB chairman Tam Yiu-chung said that the party had not made the final decision on its voting preference, and Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, was still canvassing the DAB for votes. "He hoped we could take the proposal first and review it later," Tam said.
Cheung has used the latest South China Morning Post debate series to call on lawmakers to support the scheme.
Cheung said: "If the [scheme] is granted to all senior citizens, then the financial implications will be so great that it will crowd out other government spending, including on welfare."
He said the new subsidy would cost the government HK$13.6 billion if it did not implement a means test. It would cost HK$6.2 billion if a means test was in place. About 400,000 elderly people are expected to benefit.