$3,000 pensions call as poll finds `serious' poverty

$3,000 pensions call as poll finds `serious' poverty Choya Choi  Wednesday, July 04, 2012 A concern group wants the introduction of a HK$3,000 monthly pension for those over 65. The call comes after a poll showing that 17 out of every 20 respondents believe poverty among the elderly is "serious or very serious." In addition, four in every five are "not or definitely not confident" of being able to enjoy retirement on their MPF money. The Alliance for Universal Pension said the findings are the result of telephone interviews with 1,032 people between June 5-12. Alliance organizer Au Yeung Kwun-tung said more than 85percent of respondents feel the current level of poverty among the elderly is serious or very serious, and 65.6percent believe the "elderly Comprehensive Social Security Assistance" cannot resolve the problem. Among the working group, more than 80percent said they are "not confident" or "definitely not confident" they will be able to rely on the MPF and personal savings for their daily needs and health- care expenses when they retire. Au Yeung said the new government should give retirement protection a high priority in order to alleviate poverty. "According to a survey we did after last year's policy address, more than one-third of the elderly live in poverty," he added. "The elderly poor are likely to be the cause of social conflicts in Hong Kong." Au Yeung said the means- tested special old age allowance of HK$2,200 a month proposed by Chief Executive Leung Chun- ying during his election campaign may only be used as a transitional measure towards an ultimate system of universal pension. "More than 163,000 elderly are unable to apply for the elderly CSSA because of means-testing. The government ought to review its current rationale of means- tests," Au Yeung said. "In the long run, the government must establish a universally covered retirement protection system - we urge a universal pension of HK$3,000 a month for everyone over 65." Alliance consultant Lee Kim- ming said the fact that 89.3percent of respondents support a universal pension scheme challenges a statement by the former chief executive, Donald Tsang Yam- kuen, that there is no consensus on the matter. "This is a very strong figure. We urge the new government to set a committee or a department to study whether it is feasible to establish a universal pension system," Lee said. Au Yeung said the alliance expects the new government to draft proposals on a universal pension scheme within the next five years.