Old people have a right to 'fruit money'
According to law, senior citizens aged 65 and above can receive a monthly old-age allowance of HK$1,000 on condition they do not stay away from Hong Kong for more than 56 days. I believe this law is flawed.
It is understandable that senior citizens originally from the mainland may want to return to their hometowns for retirement. Many such elderly people still have relatives back home. It is their right to spend time with them rather than at a nursing home in Hong Kong. This means they often have to overstay the current legal limit. Elderly people contributed a lot to the prosperity of our city in earlier decades and they deserve some financial help.
I understand the government is worried about the costs of social welfare. But it needs to strike a balance between what the right of elders and financial considerations.
Vivian Wong Wun-kwan,
Kit Sam Lam Bing Yim Secondary School
