THE territory's five major political parties failed to reach consensus on a retirement pension scheme yesterday, following a government move to virtually abandon its old age pension scheme.
The groups only managed to agree at the end of a roundtable meeting to urge the Government to raise comprehensive social security assistance for destitute elderly people from the existing $1,680 to $2,300 and relax the means test requirements immediately.
The meeting included the Democratic Party, the Liberal Party, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment of Hong Kong (DAB), the Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood and the Hong Kong Democratic Foundation. Twelve representatives attended the meeting, held at the Legislative Council chambers.
Convenor Tam Yiu-chung, also a DAB vice-chairman, said they were divided on options for a pension scheme, such as whether it should be privately or government run. But all agreed there should be one.
Mr Tam said they would hold another meeting on February 23 to try to seek consensus on a model for the scheme.
Liberal Party members said there was no point in further talks if the other four parties stuck to the old age pension scheme.
