Letters | Hong Kong or Macau, coronavirus aid will not cure what ails society
- Governments are not obliged to provide all citizens with economic support, even in difficult times
- The need is for effective policies to especially help those living a life of extreme misery
The government has said the scheme to put 7,000 patacas (US$875) directly into each eligible resident’s Central Provident Fund account will not be continued in 2021. Many people in Macau, the elderly in particular, have criticised the government for its frugal approach, saying it is biased against the retired and the unemployed.
“A cash subsidy of 15,000 patacas merely for full-time and part-time employees is very inequitable because those who are jobless are excluded from the package. Also, my husband and I this year will receive 14,000 patacas less in cash because of the suspension of deposits in the Central Provident Fund,” I overheard one retired old lady saying. The complaint is partly justified.
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In fact, the authorities should think twice before adopting any relief policy, evaluating whether it is contrary to the wishes of most people. Any measure that could cause division between people must be avoided.