雙語社評齊齊聽

英語 (足本收聽)

普通話 (足本收聽)

【明報專訊】LIKE the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) system, the enhanced Old Age Allowance scheme has been introduced for the sake of the retired population. The MPF system, however, was ill-conceived at the time of introduction, and an Employee Choice Arrangement, to commence on November 1, is designed to address one of its problems.

英語

強積金和長者生活津貼都關乎長者退休後的生活，下月1日實施的強積金半自由行，是用以糾正強積金制度設計之弊，這是當年缺乏深思熟慮的結果。

普通話

Launched 11 years ago, the MPF system has attracted public anger and hostility, as was evident last year, when a public outcry followed a government proposal in the Budget to inject $6,000 into each and every MPF account. The proposal, it was said, would only serve to benefit the MPF trustees. For the fact is that, with their poor returns and high management fees, MPF funds not only fail to provide for retirement, but eat into employees' hard-earned money. The MPF system has become a goose that lays golden eggs for the trustees and fund managers.

英語

強積金實施至今已經11年，市民對強積金的憤恨，從去年財政預算案，政府給每個強積金戶口注資6000元，而引發的群情洶湧可見一斑，市民認為政府注資是「明益」強積金受託人。因為強積金回報率已經不高，管理費卻高昂，蠶食打工仔的血汗錢，未能保障打工仔退休生活，卻成為供養受託人與基金經理的會生金蛋的鵝。

普通話

It remains to be seen if employees' interests could be better protected with the introduction of the Employee Choice Arrangement, but one thing is clear: an ill-conceived policy can have far-reaching effects, for which both the government and society may have to pay heavily.

英語

強積金半自由行，能否使打工仔少受剝削，尚待觀察。事態說明一個不妥當的政策，影響極其深遠，市民、政府和社會都要付出代價。

普通話

Seen in this light, we cannot but consider the at present much-discussed enhanced Old Age Allowance scheme with a sense of misgiving.

英語

回顧強積金的一些情况，檢視社會上熱議的長者生活津貼，使人忐忑不安。

普通話

The issue in fact arose during the Chief Executive race this year. Not to be outdone by Henry Tang Ying-yen, who proposed in his election platform a $3,000 retirement allowance a month for all qualified senior citizens, Leung Chun-ying stated as part of his election platform that "a special old age allowance scheme will be introduced over and above the present one, and needy senior citizens will be entitled to an allowance about double the present amount after passing a simple means test". The enhanced Old Age Allowance scheme now introduced by the government is to fulfil Leung's election promise.

英語

首先，議題源於今年特首選舉期間，參選人唐英年在競選政綱提出給合資格長者發放每月3000元退休津貼，梁振英不甘後人，競選政綱提出在「現行生果金計劃基礎上增設特惠生果金，有需要長者經簡單入息及資產申報後，每月可獲約雙倍津貼」，梁振英當選特首，現在政府提出的長者生活津貼，就是要履行梁振英的競選承諾。

普通話

If the $2,200 Old Age Allowance scheme smacks of populism, it becomes even more so when passed on to politicians and political parties. Recently, many of them have, in the name of serving the people, demanded more and more from the government. Some insist that there should be no means test for those aged 70 or above, and some declare that the income and asset limits should be raised. Many have even threatened that, unless their demands are complied with, they will vote down the government's application for funding of the scheme. Clearly, the enhanced Old Age Allowance issue is getting more and more steeped in populism. Will the scheme end up as badly devised as the MPF system and play havoc with the coming generations? The government is now put to a severe test.

英語

政府的2200元津貼計劃，本已不乏民粹色彩，去到政黨政客手中，更加不得了。連日來，多個政黨政客都擺出為民請命的架式，層層加碼，有直接要求70歲以上長者免資產申報，也有要求提高資產上限。不少政黨政客「要脅」政府，若不就範就否決撥款云云。所以，情况顯示長者生活津貼計劃，在民粹之路愈滑愈深，最終會否出現類如強積金的錯誤政策，禍及下一代，對政府是極大考驗。

普通話

Political parties and politicians are talking glibly about a universal pension scheme, but they never tell us where the money to finance the scheme is to come from. As everyone knows, a universal pension means an increase in taxes and a drastic revision of Hong Kong's low and simple taxation regime. It is pointless talking about such a pension when there is no public consensus on tax increases.

英語

一些政黨政客口口聲聲說全民退休保障，但是他們從來不說錢從何來。衆所周知，實行全民退休保障，必然要加稅，大改香港的簡單稅制和低稅率。在社會對加稅無共識情况下講全民退休保障，看不到有任何意義。

普通話

On the enhanced Old Age Allowance issue, the government must stick to the principle of helping only the needy and insist on a means test. No concessions should be made even if the funding approval is voted down. The MPF system is bad enough. Hong Kong cannot afford an equally bad enhanced Old Age Allowance scheme.

英語

關於長者生活津貼，政府要恪守協助有需要人士的原則，必須堅持資產申報機制，即使政府不夠票通過撥款，也絕對不能退讓。強積金已是慘痛教訓，長者生活津貼切勿重蹈覆轍。

普通話

明報社評 2012.10.11

Presented by lecturers of Hong Kong Community College, PolyU and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Ms Frieda Kwok

Lecturer, Hong Kong Community College, PolyU

http://www.hkcc-polyu.edu.hk/index.php?lang=eng&cms=86

袁振華

香港專上學院講師

http://www.cbs.polyu.edu.hk/staffs/Yuen-David.php

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