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■香港人口老化，貧困長者增加。香港文匯報記者馮晉研 攝
立法會財委會上月26日通過「中止待續」議案，長者生活津貼計劃撥款的審議被押後。40萬長者可能要延期領取津貼，直接影響貧窮長者利益。財委會應以長者利益為首要考慮，酌情盡快安排特別會議再度審議計劃撥款。立法會各黨派亦應撇除政治爭議，集中精力處理計劃中遇到的困難，讓長者能如期獲取津貼，改善生活。
事實上，要求提高現有生果金金額一倍至約2,200元是社會各界討論已久的目標金額，政府急市民所急，欲趕及如期在明年3月推行，是政府回應社會訴求的應有之義。香港人口老化，貧困長者增加，在低稅制度下，避免造成長遠的沉重福利負擔，設立審查機制發放津貼，以集中資源扶助貧困長者，值得社會各界支持。在討論已久的前提下，計劃仍在枝節上拖拖拉拉，難獲得社會認同。
立法會財委會應從照顧長者的角度出發，考慮盡快重新審議撥款申請，以免再令長者失望。財委會通過「中止待續」議案，長者生活津貼計劃的開展無可避免受到影響。立法會各黨派應以長者的利益作為首要考慮，集中精神在財委會上積極討論，不應再執著政治爭議。
Put interests of the elderly first and resume debate as soon as possible
The Finance Committee of the Legislative Council passed an "adjournment" motion on 26 October and deferred the debate of fund appropriation for old age allowance. As a result, distributing the allowances to four hundred thousand senior citizens may have to be delayed, which directly affects the welfare of the needy elderly people. The Finance Committee should give put the welfare of the senior citizens in the first place and call a special discretionary meeting to resume the debate of fund appropriation for the scheme as soon as possible. Legislative Councillors from various parties and bodies ought to put their political disputes aside and focus on tackling the difficulties encountered in dealing with the issue in order that the senior citizens can receive their allowances according to schedule and improve their livelihood.
In fact, the demand to double the amount of "fruit money" to the target figure of about HK$2,200 has been a subject of public debate for a long time. Driven by an urge to meet the needs of the people, the government would like to implement the scheme on schedule in March next year. This is what the government ought to do in response to the demand of the people. The population of Hong Kong is aging and the number of poor elderly people is on the rise. Under a system of low tax rate, an assessment mechanism for distributing allowance is necessary because it ensures that resources are directed to help those elderly people who are in need, and at the same time prevents the formation of a heavy welfare burden on society in the long run. It deserves support from all walks of life. The plan has been a subject of debate for a long time. Any unwarranted delay of the scheme due to lengthy debates on minor issues will not be accepted by the public.
The Finance Committee of the Legislative Council have to tackle the issue from the perspective of providing care for the elderly and consider resuming the debate of fund appropriation as soon as possible to avoid disappointing the old people once again. The passage of the "adjournment" motion by the committee unavoidably affects the implementation of the old age allowance scheme. Legislators from various parties and bodies should regard the welfare of the senior citizens as the top priority, focus their attention on meaningful debates in the Finance Committee, and stop dwelling on political disputes. ■Translation by Tung-ming（tungming23@gmail.com）
逢周五見報
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