The government's proposed Old Age Living Allowance has still not been approved because some lawmakers on the finance committee demand the scrapping of a means test.
This test would include an asset assessment to determine if an elderly person is eligible for the allowance. I fully understand the rationale of those pursuing the abandonment of the asset assessment requirement.
However, if, as they are proposing, all elderly Hong Kong citizens over the age of 70 could get the allowance - whatever their asset level - where do they propose the government find the financial resources to pay for such a scheme?
If the law as they envisage was passed, to fund it, officials would have to take money designated for other purposes or find a way to increase tax revenue. And if this happened, would other people in society suffer as a consequence?
Because of the present impasse, we have a situation whereby more than 400,000 elderly citizens, who are in desperate need of the proposed monthly allowance of HK$2,200, have to wait indefinitely pending a resolution.
The motivation of those councillors standing firm in their opposition to the means test seems clear - to earn political credit from those who support them.