Welfare panel likely to delay vote on old-age benefit
Pan-democrats want Finance Committee to adjourn discussion of HK$3.1b funding request
The government's effort to get lawmakers' backing tomorrow for a HK$2,200 allowance for the elderly poor is in danger because pan-democrats plan to force an adjournment of scrutiny of an application to fund the measure.
Pan-democrats and some other lawmakers insist the government must waive a means test for the new allowance for those over 70 - or at least raise the asset cap - otherwise they will block it.
Labour Party lawmaker Dr Fernando Cheung Chiu-hung said he would ask the welfare panel today to propose that tomorrow's Finance Committee meeting adjourn discussion of the HK$3.1 billion funding request.
His motion is expected to be accepted by the pan-democrat-dominated panel.
If it does succeed, that would require Chan Yuen-han, its chairwoman, to move a motion for adjournment of discussion when the Finance Committee meets tomorrow.
This would give the argument for adjournment more force, proponents of the welfare panel motion say.
Chan, of the Federation of Trade Unions, which is usually seen as pro-establishment, said she and her union colleagues would support the move to adjourn a vote on the allowance, as would the Democratic Party, the Civic Party and People Power. The Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong will oppose it.
Cheung said: "Our rationale is to protect the right of Legco to consult the public on this scheme.
"The government is trying to railroad us by bringing it up in Friday's meeting, while the welfare panel meeting hasn't even completed its public hearing."
The government proposes giving HK$2,200 a month to people over 65 who have assets of less than HK$186,000 and a monthly income below HK$6,660. It would be subject to a means test.
The existing allowance of HK$1,090 a month, often referred to as "fruit money" because it buys so little, is only means-tested for those aged 65 to 69.
DAB lawmakers will meet Chief Secretary Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor and Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung Kin-chung today.
The DAB's Ip Kwok-him said if the government pledged to review the means test and its asset limit, it would "proactively consider" backing the proposal.
Pan-democrats say they have the support of 34 lawmakers on the Finance Committee to adjourn discussion. They need 35 to force an adjournment.
"We are discontented with the fake consultation that the government is doing," Labour Party chairman Lee Cheuk-yan said. "We should leave room for discussion in the Legislative Council."
At its meeting today, the welfare panel will gauge the views of 40 concern groups.
Its chairwoman, Chan, said more than 50 other groups were in line to air their opinions before the panel on Monday.
