Lawmakers grant grudging approval after condemning rules of eligibility

The government stormed through the HK$4.8 billion funding proposal for the Work Incentive Transport Subsidy Scheme Friday amid protests and dissenting voices.

The Legislative Council Finance Committee approved the funding by a vote of 30-0.

Supporting votes came from pro-establishment lawmakers, including those who opposed the proposal before the government granted minor concessions.

Over a dozen opposition lawmakers walked out of the meeting, but Democracy Party lawmakers stayed in to cast abstaining ballots.

Earlier, a motion to postpone the funding was vetoed by 23-30.

When the funding was put to the vote, people shouted and threw objects from the public gallery to disrupt the process, as security guards attempted to remove the protesters.

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung said after the meeting he hoped to start the plan as soon as possible to benefit some 430,000 people.

The revised plan lifted the monthly income limit of two-person families to HK$12,000 and allowed part-time employees working no fewer than 36 hours to receive half of the monthly subsidy, or HK$300.

But the government remained firm in refusing to allow individuals to apply for the transport subsidy.

Asked why only families are allowed to apply, he said it is a matter of principle because families who need help can be more easily identified.

Opposition lawmakers and several pro-establishment lawmakers continued to press for a "dual-track arrangement", which allowed both families and individuals to apply.

"As the income of members of a family varies, one who earns very little is ineligible if the other members earn more money, while the means test will cause disputes in the families if they are required to disclose their earnings," said Frederick Fung of the Association for Democracy and People's Livelihood.

Lee Cheuk-yan, who represents the Confederation of Trade Unions said, "as people who benefited from the allowance are now ineligible, the scheme does not encourage employment."

Secretary Cheung has said at the meeting that the proposal differs from the old, temporary one, which was to encourage those living in four remote districts to look for jobs farther from their home areas.

"As a pilot scheme, the old scheme has fulfilled its historic mission," he said.

The new proposal is permanent and city-wide, he said.

The Democratic Alliance for Betterment and Progress said the proposal is imperfect and has caused strong dissenting voices.

But it should be launched as quickly as possible, said Chairman Tam Yiu-chung.

China Daily

(HK Edition 02/26/2011 page1)