10個令我變得聰明的高登帖(1):

10大正確應對系列(3): 接鬼佬電話

今天講吓打電話俾鬼佬,或鬼佬打電話嚟,點用英文應對?

首先,若鬼佬打嚟,你講Hello先.佢會話搵邊位,如:May I speak to Circle K?

你的應對有三種情況:

1. 你就係Circle K: 

Speaking./Circle K speaking.How can I help you?/ This is Circle K.

2. 你唔係Circle K,你叫佢等陣:

Just a moment please./Hang on a sec I'll get .../ One moment pls. (不要用wait,無禮)

3. 你唔係Circle K, 但Circle K唔係度:

I am sorry. She is not here at the moment. Would you like to leave a message?

調番轉,你打電話俾人,鬼佬聽,你要講:

May I please speak to../ Is ..in?/ Is ...there, pls?/ This is ..calling for.... （不要說I want to find..., 無禮）

內容參考自:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCBF659RMtg

比較句式系列２：any less than

I do not believe fathers love their children any less than mothers do, but men do seem more likely to choose their job at a cost to their family, while women seem more likely to choose their family at a cost to their job.

其他例子：

 

比較句式系列１：just as much

We think of this passage as a call to prayer. And it is. But just as much it’s a remarkable statement of how resolutely the Son of Man stayed on mission.

這個字有點似at the same time:

數字數量系列(5):/ 英譯中技巧系列(1):集體名詞、量詞、複數詞

在英譯中名詞方面,有以下幾點要注意:

1. 英文很多集體名詞,中文未必有相對的字.例如,形容不同動物一群群, 英文說a herd of deers, a pack of dogs, a flock of sheep, 譯成中文都係「一群鹿」、「一群狗」、「一群羊」.

2. 但話明未必,即係有時跟英文一樣,中文的名詞也有特殊的量詞(measure words),例如:a throng of fans,譯「一批影迷」,an army of workers,譯「一隊工人」,a mob of gangsters, 譯「一夥歹徒」.

3. 至於單數量詞, 有時中文會有英文量詞的相應詞,例如: a blade of grass,譯一根葉, a blast of wind,一陣風; a cloud of smoke, 一團煙. 

4. 但有些名詞的量詞,中文有特殊的量詞,但英文無分別,例: 中文叫「一張紙」、「一首歌」、「一篇散文」,「一件衫」,英文紛紛叫a piece of paper/song/prose/clothes

5. 留意，如果逐個逐個數，數到的東西不需量詞,例如,中文的「五個人」,英文只需five people/persons─中文「五個人」中的「個」係中文才有.所以,英譯中的話,要加上中文才有的量詞. 這時候,英譯中係要增字的.

6. 但有時英文的複數詞(plural nouns)未必有數詞,如some people. 或people. 中文會譯「有些人」和「人們」.不過留意,「們」不應被濫用,例如英文的audience是個collective noun, 中文也有相應的「觀眾」,不必加「們」成「觀眾們」.

10大MLA引用文獻格式2: 網絡Works Cited 10個步驟

例子:brandychloe. "Great Horned Owl Family." Webshots. American Greetings, 22 May 2006. Web. 5 Nov. 2009.

1. 首先是作者/編輯名,句號

2. 然後是開引號,文章標題, 句號,關引號.

3. 然後是網站名稱(斜體),句號.

4. 然後是版本號碼,例如是上載日期等.(不一定有)

5. 出版社名稱,出版日期,句號.(注:如無出版社,用n.p.; 如無出版日期,用n.d.)

6. 頁數(如果有)

7. 出版媒介,即網頁,英文是Web,句號.

8. 引用日期(即上網日期),句號.

9. <網頁地址>,句號.(注: MLA不要求URL,但為方便自己參考,我建議都寫埋網址.

10. 其實相片或視頻也可以引用的,例如引用youtube video,格式是這樣:

上載者/製作者名稱, "影像/視頻標題." 媒介種類.網站名稱.網站出版者, 上載日期.Web.引用日期.

例子: Shimabukuro, Jake. "Ukulele Weeps by Jake Shimabukuro." Online video clip. YouTube. YouTube, 22 Apr. 2006. Web. 9 Sept. 2010.

例子:"Plagiarism." Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 22 July 2004. Web. 10 Aug. 2004.

(引wikipedia參考: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_Wikipedia#MLA_style)

Office工作技巧系列4:如何轉駁來電

1. 有人打來想搵A.

2. 話等等,

3. 按Hold.

4. 按A的內線.

5. A聽電話,

6. 跟A說有人搵佢.

7. A表達想聽.

8. 按Transfer.

9. 完成.

10.收線.

(注:以上程序只適合NEC電話)

10大MLA引用文獻格式1: In-text Citations

寫文如果要引文,人文科論文用MLA.

MLA第一步係知道在文中quote人地唸法時要用咩格式.

第二步則係知道如何在文末用正確格式列出Works Cited.

1. MLA只要求在內文交待作者及作品頁數,如

According to Jones, "Students often had difficulty using MLA style" (199).

2. 或者:

She stated, "Students often had difficulty using MLA style," but she did not offer an explanation as to why(Jones 199).

Jones是作者的last name(姓), 199是作品頁數.有兩種方式, 一種是寫根據某某,引述其句子(開引號),再用括號括住頁數;或者,不用寫根據誰,卻在其引文後用括號包含其名字及頁數)

3. 注意,如果引文太長(不建議,因為抄襲嫌疑),便要用hanging indent(即縮入五格)列出引文(不需引號),如:

Jones's study found the following:

Students often had difficulty using MLA style,especially when it was their first time citing sources.This difficulty could be attributed to the fact thatmany students failed to purchase a style manual orto ask their teacher for help. (199)

4. 最好其實係不直接引文,只引其idea,連引號也不需用:

According to Jones, MLA style is a difficult citation formatfor first-time learners (199).

5. 如果係引一本書作者所引用的,就用"qtd."例如: 

Ravitch argues that high schools are pressured to act as "social service centers, and they don't do that well" (qtd. in Weisman 259).

6. 如果所引的沒有作者：

若來源沒有作者，用文章名的簡稱及頁數。加引號，例如：

We see so many global warming hotspots in North America likely because this region has "more readily accessible climatic data and more comprehensive programs to monitor and study environmental change . . ." ("Impact of Global Warming" 6).

在Works Cited中，如此表示：

"The Impact of Global Warming in North America." 　　Global Warming: Early Signs. 1999. Web. 23 Mar. 2009.

(參考: 浸會大學圖書館及 OWL Purdue MLA Formatting and Style Guide)

10大溝通技巧1:聆聽

"When someone is talking to you, listen. Period. When you don’t listen, it makes the other person feel like you don’t care. If you’re not sure about your listening skills, ask friends and family if they feel like you listen when you have conversations with them.

When you’re listening, make eye contact. When you look away frequently, check your phone, or scan the room when someone’s talking to you, it appears that you’re not listening and you destroy the conversation."

source: 

Petsinger, Kerry. "8 Insanely Effective Ways To Connect With Anyone You Meet". LifeHack. http://www.lifehack.org/332706/8-insanely-effective-ways-connect-with-anyone-you-meet

施政報告英文系列(3)：回歸後政府的老人政策

1. 居家安老	2. 資助院舍/私營院舍	3. 公屋	4. 綜援/生果金	5. 長者醫療券
6. 長者(乘車優惠)	7.長者屋	8. 終身學習/老有所為	9. MPF	10. 返內地退休

1.          居家安老 (ageing at home)

-俾著數給家人

1997 review public housing allocation arrangements to encourage eligible family members to live with older members.

1998: More than 70% of elderly people live with their families. To encourage people to care for their aged relatives, we already provide tax incentives and public housing privileges.

-幫手提供日間託管/ 家務助理服務

1998: We will provide more support for elderly people living at home, and for their families, by -

l  providing 15 more home help teams in 1999-2000;

l  conducting pilot schemes to improve the cost-effectiveness of home help services; and

l  launching a pilot project to introduce a respite暫託 service, which will allow families to place their elderly parents in day care centres temporarily so that the families can attend to other business.

2007: The elderly are important members of families. Family   members play a major role in taking care of the elderly. We need   to strengthen mutual support among family members and   improve their ability to look after the elderly. We will strengthen   training for carers of the elderly and provide them with   information on elderly services.  

2007: we will provide more day care places for the elderly長者日間護理名額  We will increase home care services　到戶照顧服務in support of families living   with frail elderly people in certain districts. A trial scheme to   provide one-stop support services to elderly discharge, including rehabilitation, home care and carer support services,復康、家居照顧及護老者支援服務試驗計劃, 

2008: At the same time, we will provide　additional subsidised day care 資助日間護理places and home-based services到戶服務 to better support elderly people and　their carers. The District-based Trial Scheme on Carer Training 護老培訓地區試驗計劃as proved effective in enhancing　carers’ confidence and skills in looking after the elderly. We will extend the Scheme to cover all　districts.　

2009: In addition, the Government will continue to devote resources to supporting those elderly people who live at home. In the next two years, we will provide additional subsidised day care places資助長者日間護理服務 in districts with a stronger service demand, and extend the District-based Scheme on Carer Training 護老培訓地區計劃to give greater support to carers of the elderly at district and neighbourhood levels. We will also examine ways to improve the existing home care services 家居照顧服and encourage more organisations to provide such services through the operation of social enterprises.

2010: The Government will significantly increase subsidised community care places for the elderly next year. We also expect to launch the pilot scheme on home care services 家居照顧試驗計劃early next year to provide “tailor-made” services for elderly people on the waiting list for nursing home places護養院. Furthermore, the pilot Integrated Discharge Support Programme for Elderly Patients has been well received. Through collaboration between the welfare and healthcare sectors, the programme has been effective in helping elderly patients discharged from the hospital to recover at home. We plan to make it a regular service and extend its coverage from the current three districts to all districts in two years’ time. We will also consider offering more tax concessions as incentives for the working population to live with their elderly parents. This is in line with our policy objective of encouraging elderly people to age at home.

2011: An Elderly Commission study has found that resources allocated to community care services are far less than those allocated to residential care services. To rectify this situation, apart from increasing community care places, we should improve the content, form and funding mode of community care services to offer a desirable alternative to residential care. 

Last year we announced a new initiative that enabled elderly people on the waiting list for nursing home places to try out tailor-made home care services. In this year’s Budget, we extended the coverage of the Community Living Supplement under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) Scheme to include recipients aged 60 or above who were ageing at home.  

Next, we will consider community care vouchers to provide a direct subsidy for elderly people who need long-term care to acquire a wide range of services, and encourage diversity in service delivery agents. In parallel, we will provide more places for existing community care services. 

2013: Ageing in place is the cherished wish of most elderly people. This is in line with the family-oriented policy advocated by the Government on the welfare front. We will strengthen our community care services, which include the launch of the first phase of the Pilot Scheme on Community Care Service Voucher for the Elderly by the Social Welfare Department (SWD) in September this year. The Scheme adopts an innovative funding mode, namely the “money follows the user” approach. Eligible elderly may choose the services that suit their individual needs with the use of service vouchers. Moreover, we will increase day care places in the conventional funding mode and extend the service hours of new day care centres for the elderly.

2014: The Social Welfare Department (SWD) rolled out the first phase of the Pilot Scheme on Community Care Service Voucher for the Elderly in September 2013. The scheme has adopted a “money-following-the-user” approach that enables eligible elderly people to use vouchers to acquire services of their choice. By end-December 2013, about 750 vouchers had been issued by the SWD. Meanwhile, the Government will continue to provide additional resources to increase subsidised places for other community care services.

The Government will allocate additional resources to  elderly centres to strengthen support for the elderly, including  enhancing information dissemination and counselling services,  care needs assessment and processing of care services  applications. The support rendered to elderly persons with  dementia and their carers by district elderly community centres  20  will be strengthened. The CCF Task Force is also considering a  pilot scheme on a carer allowance for the elderly. 

2.          資助院舍/私營安老院舍

1997: We will also increase subvented residential care places by 2 400 through the Bought Place Scheme買位計劃 over the next three years. A new Dementia Supplement will be introduced and the Infirmary Care Supplement will be maintained to enable subvented care homes to provide continuity of care to the elderly.

1998 s reducing the waiting time for places in subsidised care homes, and improving the standards of private residential care homes.

The Elderly Commission has found that there are currently about

13 000 old people in need who are waiting for residential care places. To help meet demand and reduce the waiting time for places, we plan to provide about 8 000 new subsidised places in the period between 1998 and 2002, including the 7 100 pledged last year.

To help upgrade the standards in private care homes, since early 1997 we have approved financial assistance to 100 homes. We will also pay higher prices under the Bought Place Scheme for places in homes which have more living space and higher staffing levels. To provide more premises of an appropriate standard for private care homes, we will draw up a programme to make available suitable sites in public and private housing developments. We will also monitor the demand and supply of nursing, allied health and personal care staff for residential care homes. To allow elderly people to continue to live in the same home even when their health deteriorates, we will develop a funding mechanism to support residential care homes offering this service and in 1999 we will invite selected homes to provide the service on a trial basis.

1999: Over the past 18 months, there has been an increase of 3 500 subsidised residential care places for the elderly受資助安老院, which has helped to reduce waiting time considerably. The service quality of private homes for the elderly has been improved over the past two years through the licensing system.

2000- in the past three years, an additional 6 400 subsidised residential care places have been provided, reducing waiting time by eight months. Next year, we will increase the allocation by more than $100 million to provide approximately 1 600

more places.

The Government has also stepped up its regulation of private care homes for the elderly私營安老院. The number of licensed private care homes has increased from 14 in 1997 to 450 this year. With a 65% increase in funding in the past three years, the number of beneficiaries of home care services for the elderly has been increased by 10 000.

2001: Subsidised residential care places are provided for those who cannot

be adequately taken care of at home. By March next year, 26 000 places will

be available, a 70% increase over the 15 000 places in 1997. In addition, since

March this year all private care homes have met licensing standards, an

enormous improvement compared to the less than 1% of facilities that met these

standards in 1997. Comparatively speaking, services provided by private care

homes are now much better than before.

2008: We will increase subsidised residential care places through those to be provided in new　contract homes and the Enhanced Bought Place Scheme「改善買位計劃

2009: For those elderly people who cannot live at home because of health or family problems, residential care is important. We know that our ageing population will create greater demand for subsidised residential care places, in particular those with nursing care. The Government will adopt a novel multi-pronged approach to speed up the provision of subsidised residential care places that provide nursing or continuous care. The new initiatives include: (1) Increasing from 50% to 90% the proportion of nursing home places in existing subsidised contract residential care homes for the elderly; (2) Purchasing, for the first time, vacant places from selffinancing nursing homes and care and attention homes; and (3) Making full use of the space in existing subsidised elderly homes to provide more places that offer continuous care.

These initiatives will substantially increase the number of subsidised residential care places that provide nursing or continuous care in the next five years. We will continue to build new residential care homes for the elderly. Five new contract homes 合約院舍 will open in the next three years to provide additional subsidised places.

While the supply of subsidised residential care places is important, the service quality of these homes should not be overlooked. We will launch a pilot scheme to provide these homes with visiting pharmacist services to enhance the knowledge and capability of their staff in drug management.

2010: For frail elderly people in need of residential care, we will provide additional places by building new residential care homes and making full use of the space in existing homes. We will also increase the supply of higher-quality places under the Enhanced Bought Place Scheme.

The public is increasingly concerned about the proper care of elderly people suffering from dementia老年癡呆. We will provide or increase relevant supplements for subsidised residential care homes and day care centres for the elderly to render more targeted services to such patients.

2011: Residential care services in Hong Kong are relatively developed, with 20% of our residential care places provided by subvented and contract homes and the remaining 80% by private and self-financing homes. In recent years, the vacancy rate of private homes has remained at about 30%. These private homes still have considerable capacity to cope with service demand.

The waiting time for subsidised places is long, not only because there is an actual shortage of nursing home places providing a higher level of care, but also because of the personal preferences of the applicants. Take the care and attention home places of a lower care level as an example. At present, 99% of elderly people on the waiting list have specified their district of choice. Since it takes time to satisfy their choices, the average waiting time is 22 months. If there is no location preference, an elderly person can get a place right away.

Currently, applicants for subsidised residential care places are not required to pass a means test. They only need to be assessed to confirm their needs for long-term care. In order to better allocate public resources to help those who most need residential care, we have to make best use of the care and attention home places provided by the private sector. At the same time, we need to focus our resources on the nursing home places that the private sector finds difficult to operate.

The Government has for years been buying residential care places from private homes under the Enhanced Bought Place Scheme. About a quarter of existing private homes have joined the Scheme. We will provide additional resources to encourage private homes to upgrade their services so that more elderly people on the waiting list will opt for them. We will also buy more places to help relieve the pressure on subvented and contract homes.

As for nursing home places, the Government has pooled resources to increase their supply in recent years. We have earmarked sufficient funds to increase the number of such places by more than 50% by 2015. Also, we will increase the supply of long-term care places providing a continuum of care. I must stress that, while we encourage the elderly to age at home, under no circumstances will we neglect their needs for residential care services.

In addition, as many elderly people choose to live in non-subsidised homes, I propose to introduce a supplement for CSSA recipients aged 60 or above living in such homes to ease their financial burden. CSSA recipients with disabilities of any age living in such homes may also receive the supplement

The Government now grants a supplement to subsidised residential care homes for the elderly so that additional healthcare professionals can be employed to provide targeted training and care for residents suffering from dementia. The measure was extended to cover day care centres for the elderly last year. I propose to increase the amount of the supplement to enable such institutions to enhance support for demented elderly people.

We understand that elderly care is not just about funding. We need to tackle the shortage of land and manpower. Apart from reserving space for welfare service units in new development and redevelopment projects, we will actively identify designated sites for residential care homes. We will also take into account the requirements of the social welfare sector in the overall manpower planning of medical and healthcare professionals.

2013: We will increase the number of subsidised residential care places for the elderly through a multi-pronged approach. In the short run, we will purchase places from private residential care homes for the elderly through the Enhanced Bought Place Scheme and make better use of space in subvented homes for provision of more subsidised places. For the medium term, we will build new contract residential care homes to increase the number of subsidised places, particularly places providing a higher level of nursing care. In the long run, we will identify sites for new homes. We will explore the feasibility of incorporating residential care facilities into redevelopment projects, and convert vacant buildings into residential care homes. From now to 2014-15, the SWD will provide over 1 700 new subsidised places. We have also earmarked sites in 11 development projects for new contract residential care homes.

2014: The Government will continue to increase the supply of  subsidised residential care places for the elderly through a multipronged  approach that includes, among others, the Special  Scheme on Privately Owned Sites for Welfare Uses. We will  allocate additional resources to extend the continuum of care to  subsidised nursing home places. 

The Government will purchase residential care places  from an elderly home run by a Hong Kong non-governmental  organisation (NGO) in Shenzhen to provide an option for the  elderly on the Central Waiting List for subsidised residential care  places. The SWD will invite eligible elderly people to apply for  those places in the second quarter of this year and make move-in  arrangements in the third quarter. We are also discussing  similar arrangements with another elderly home in Zhaoqing run  by a Hong Kong NGO. The scheme will be reviewed two years  after implementation. 

I announced in my last Policy Address that the  Government would study the feasibility of adopting the subsidy  mode of Community Care Service Voucher for the Elderly for  residential care services. We will ask the Elderly Commission to  conduct the study and submit a report to the Government in the  coming year. If it is considered feasible to run a residential care  service voucher pilot scheme, we will provide the necessary  resources. In this connection, the Government has earmarked  about $800 million to meet the expenses incurred in issuing a  total of 3 000 residential care service vouchers in three phases  from 2015-16 to 2017-18. Taking into account these 3 000 vouchers,  the Government will provide about 5 000 additional subsidised  residential care places for the elderly within the current term of  office. 

最新消息:
-【施政報告—前瞻】長者院舍券料推出 或優化傷殘津貼制度, 蘋果日報, 2016年1月11日

2014: In parallel, the Government will provide more subsidised residential care  services through a multi-pronged approach. More residential  care places for the elderly will be provided by redeveloping or  expanding existing service facilities through the Special Scheme  on Privately Owned Sites for Welfare Uses proposed in my Policy  Addresses. 

3.          公屋

1998；For old people who cannot live with their families, we aim to provide support in obtaining suitable housing and care. We are making good progress towards meeting our target of reducing the waiting time for elderly people applying for public rental flats to two years

1999 In response to its recommendations, the Government has pledged to provide 30 000 public rental flats for the elderly by the end of 2002. So far we have provided around 10 000 flats, a rate of progress in line with our target

2000 Government has shortened by one year the average waiting time for the allocation of public rental flats to single elderly persons. This has been made possible by giving priority to elderly applicants in the allocation of flats and building more flats tailored to their needs. Efforts will be made to further reduce the waiting time

4.          綜援/生果金/長生津

1997: To address today's needs, we will increase the monthly payment to elderly Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients. The annual Chinese New Year Grant and the Social and Recreational Activities Grant will also be merged into the regular monthly payment. Taken together, in the next financial year the CSSA monthly payment for the elderly will be increased by $380 before inflationary adjustment.

There has been much public debate about what is meant by providing adequate social security to those who do not have the means to support themselves. I am aware of the concern that some elderly persons are not eligible for CSSA payments if they have assets above a certain level. There is consensus in the community that more must be done for the elderly, particularly the single elderly. We need to be compassionate and caring. But, we should not remove incentives to work. To ensure that neither of these considerations are compromised, I have asked the Secretary for Health and Welfare to conduct a study on the scope and the administration of the CSSA scheme in 1998.

2008: Old Age Allowance: The OAA Scheme is not intended to meet the basic needs of the elderly. That is why the　OAA rate is lower than that of the CSSA. As the ageing population grows, and more of the　elderly who cannot meet the CSSA income and asset eligibility resort to the OAA as a maintenance　subsidy, there have been calls for the Government to increase the OAA rate to $1,000. We need a　comprehensive strategy on the provision of financial support for the elderly. We should consider　the following points:　(1) In recognition of views expressed by different sectors and political parties over the　past year, we concur that the proposed level of $1,000 for the OAA is reasonable.　(2) Given a rapidly ageing population and our limited financial resources, we should　direct resources to the elderly in genuine need to ensure the sustainable development　of our existing non-contributory social security and welfare system, which is based　on a simple tax regime. As such, the Government needs to consider introducing a　means test mechanism. The current OAA recipients will not be affected.　(3) We will proactively explore whether the permissible limit of absence from Hong　Kong under the OAA Scheme can be further relaxed.　(4) For the financially self-sufficient elderly, we also need to show our gratitude by　encouraging various sectors and private organisations to offer different forms of　concessions to them.　The LWB is working to complete the review on the OAA by year-end. Over the past six months,　the Government has provided altogether more than six additional months of the OAA to the elderly.　This should help alleviate the financial burden for needy elderly people in the short run.　　

（在長者生活津貼推出前（即2013年4月前），高齡津貼分為普通高齡津貼及高額高齡津貼兩種。）

普通高齡津貼的對象為65至69歲者，申領人需要經過資產及入息審查（Means test）。高額高齡津貼的對象為70歲或以上者，申領人不用經過資產及入息審查（本來要）。

（注：　2008年10月15日，特首曾蔭權在立法會議事廳宣讀新一份《施政報告》，特首宣讀有關「生果金（高齡津貼）」部份時，為回應各政黨要求提高生果金的聲音，特首宣告擬將生果金由每月$625或$705，劃一調升至$1000，政府稱人口日趨老化，而財政資源有限，有需要考慮將來對70歲或以上的申請者加設某種形式的審查機制，使資源集中分配到有需要的申請者手上。有關審查的提議引起在場的兩名社民連議員陳偉業及黃毓民表示入息及資產審查違反生果金孝敬長者原意，先後表達不滿，並打斷了特首宣讀《施政報告》。其後兩位被要求離場時，黃毓民突然向曾蔭權站立的主席檯前投擲三隻香蕉以示憤怒。這是香港有史以來在立法會的首宗議會肢體抗爭事件，事件成為香港新聞焦點，引起各界及市民熱烈討論。但約一周後，特首曾蔭權宣布取消入息及資產審查，事後引發了多個後續事件，包括有長者模仿黃毓民的擲蕉行為，亦有不少長者對社民連能成功爭取不須入息審查取生果金與黃毓民等合照表支持）

兩種高齡津貼於2009年起劃一增加至每月1000港元，增幅為60%和42%

2010: Many people suggest that the permissible limit of absence from Hong Kong for the Old Age Allowance (OAA) should be relaxed so that elderly people can enjoy greater flexibility in taking up residence, travelling or visiting relatives in the Mainland. After careful consideration, we propose to substantially relax the limit of absence from Hong Kong for the OAA from the present 240 days to 305 days a year, thus enabling elderly recipients to receive a full-year allowance as long as they have resided in Hong Kong for 60 days a year. The new arrangement will also apply to the Disability Allowance.

There are also views that all restrictions on absence from Hong Kong both before application and after approval should be removed. As a judicial review of the existing policy is underway, we will consider the way forward when the situation becomes clear.

2013: (Regarding retirement protection, I suggest in my Manifesto that we should study the impact of an ageing population on our public finance, and plan ahead to deal with the issue in a timely manner. The Government will reinforce and enhance the existing three pillars, namely, private savings and family support, the social security system, and the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) System.) The Old Age Living Allowance (OALA), to be launched in April 2013, will be an additional tier of financial assistance between the CSSA and the Old Age Allowance (OAA). Some have proposed that the Government should review the relationship between the three types of financial assistance for the elderly, namely the CSSA, OALA and OAA.

由2013年2月1日起，普通高齡津貼及高額高齡津貼改為高齡津貼，對象為70歲或以上者，每月金額劃一為1,135港元，申領人不用經過資產及入息審查

長者生活津貼對象為香港65歲或以上的永久性居民長者，申領人需要簡單入息及資產申報，申請人必須符合以個人／夫婦為單位的入息及資產規定。

日期	長者生活津貼
2013年4月1日 至 2014年1月31日	HK$2,200 將會追溯至去年12月1日起，每月HK$2,200
2014年2月1日 至 2015年5月31日	HK$2,285
2015年6月1日 至今	HK$2,390 將會追溯至2月1日起，每月差額HK$105

（現時領取高齡津貼的70歲或以上長者即使超出長者生活津貼的入息及資產上限，仍然可以繼續領取每月1,180港元的高齡津貼。）

** 「生果金」目的: 原本高齡津貼設立的目的，是香港政府每月象徵性發放一些零用錢（「生果金」的俗稱就是指長者可以用這筆錢作購買生果之用，粵語地區稱水果為生果），以答謝長者多年來對香港社會的貢獻，表達「敬老」之意。由於時代的變遷，部分窮困長者現在依靠高齡津貼，以支付日常起居生活開支，變為「養老」之用。

*** 「長生津」目的: 2012年10月，政府公布長者生活津貼計劃細節，勞工及福利局局長張建宗指出，長者生活津貼不同於高齡津貼。其設立為加強支援 (1) 香港65歲或以上，兼 (2) 自身有需要的長者的生活開支。香港政府強調，長者生活津貼計劃目的不為「敬老」，而是「扶貧」。

We will conduct a review some time after the implementation of OALA and the Guangdong Scheme. The latter Scheme is so designed that Hong Kong elderly people living in Guangdong will be eligible for the OAA. Based on the findings of the review, we will explore the feasibility of allowing elderly people who choose to retire to the Mainland to receive OALA in Guangdong.

2014: The OALA I proposed in my Manifesto has benefited over  410 000 elderly people since it was introduced last April. The  Government will review this measure by the end of this year to  ascertain, among other things, whether the asset limits should be  relaxed. 

70. The Guangdong Scheme launched last October allows  Hong Kong elderly people residing in Guangdong to continue  receiving the Old Age Allowance, commonly known as “fruit  money”, without the need to return to Hong Kong every year.  The initial response to the scheme has been positive. By the end  of last year, about 16 700 elderly people had submitted  applications and about 7 000 are now receiving the allowance.  This year, the Government will seriously explore the feasibility of  extending the OALA to Guangdong in light of the scheme’s  operating experience. 

2015：The Old Age Living Allowance (OALA) was implemented shortly after I assumed office. The allowance has benefited more than 420 000 elderly people, or 40% of the elderly population.  

5.          設立MPF/ 全民退保(討論)

199X: To prevent future generations from facing the uncertainty of today's elderly, we will establish the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes in 1998 so that in twenty to

thirty years all the workforce will have provision for their retirement.

2011: It is not easy for the community to reach a consensus on a universal retirement protection scheme. We have just implemented the minimum wage, and are studying the voluntary Health Protection Scheme and ways to enhance the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) schemes. Currently, lowincome workers enjoy a certain degree of retirement and basic livelihood protection. It is impractical to introduce fundamental changes to the existing system and adopt a resource reallocation approach to deal with retirement protection because the middle class and professionals would generally not accept it now. It is more constructive to enhance the existing retirement protection system. The Government is studying this in depth.

2011檢討MPF:Since the implementation of the MPF system, almost 85% of Hong Kong’s workforce has been covered by some form of retirement protection. The MPF system has an average annual rate of return of 5.1% after fees and charges. As it is still at an initial stage, the MPF system requires continuous improvement.

The Government and the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) will strive to promote market competition. We will strengthen employees’ right of choice to reduce the fees and charges of MPF schemes. The MPFA is studying supporting measures to facilitate the implementation of a full portability arrangement in the future. It will also look into whether the withdrawal of MPF accrued benefits in phases after retirement and early withdrawal under specific circumstances by employees should be allowed.

2013: We are also aware of views in favour of the introduction of universal retirement protection. But there are concerns that universal retirement protection would impose a very heavy burden on the public coffers over time, and would be impractical without tax hikes. The other option based on tripartite contribution from employers, employees and the Government is equally controversial, involving issues such as affordability and sustainability. The Social Security and Retirement Protection Task Force will study retirement protection in depth in an open, pragmatic and prudent manner. It will consider all views objectively and work towards a consensus in the community on how we should take forward retirement protection in Hong Kong.  

The MPF System has a history of 12 years and is in need of continual refinement. Many people have grave concerns over some arrangements of the MPF System, in particular its fee levels. We will work with the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority so that a multi-pronged approach can be adopted to bring down fees and charges.

(參: 民間退休保障方案大比較)

2014: The CoP扶貧委員會 has commissioned a consultancy study by a team, with Professor Nelson Chow as the chief consultant, to assess various retirement protection schemes on the basis of the multi-pillar approach advocated by the World Bank and to make recommendations on the way forward. The team will submit a report to the CoP before mid-2014. The Government will adopt an open and pragmatic attitude in considering the way forward for retirement protection.

2015: After the release of the report on the “Future Development of Retirement Protection in Hong Kong” 《香港退休保障的未來發展研究報告》submitted by a research team led by Professor Nelson Chow last August, there have been divergent views on the issue in the community. Some supported the “demo-grant”老年金 proposed by the consultancy team, considering that “non-means-tested, universal and uniform payment level「免審查、全民劃一金額” retirement protection is the basic right of the elderly. Yet, a considerable number of people opposed any options that are non-means-tested, maintaining that public resources should be devoted to the most needy elderly people. They also raised crucial questions such as financial sustainability and “Who pays?” It is estimated that the retirement fund of the four universal retirement protection options (including that of the non-means-tested demo-grant) mentioned in the report will be exhausted between 2030 and 2050. Overseas experience shows that universal retirement protection schemes operating on the “pay-as-you-go” 「隨收隨支」principle are bound to result in financial problems, entailing a long and painful financial adjustment process that usually involves extension of retirement age, reduction of retirement payment or upward adjustment to contribution rate.

As pointed out in the report, we cannot rely solely on the Government for universal retirement protection. It is also a shared responsibility of both employers and employees. However, public discussions reveal that both employers and employees resist additional contributions or additional taxation. We are therefore not optimistic a consensus on retirement protection financing arrangements can be reached.

Retirement protection is a very important social issue. In the coming few months, the Commission on Poverty will devise a framework and set out the details for a public consultation in the latter half of this year. I look forward to rational and pragmatic discussions with a view to arriving at a community consensus.

In exploring the issue of retirement protection, we must fully consider the adequacy, sustainability, affordability and robustness 穩定性of various policy options. Hong Kong’s long-term economic growth will decelerate over time due to an ageing population. The Government will face increasing fiscal pressure in the medium to long terms. If we were to deploy our financial resources to benefit all, the benefits received by elderly people in financial need would inevitably be reduced. In addition, we should take into full account the functions of the various pillars under the existing retirement protection system and explore possible necessary enhancement measures. We should also have regard to the traditional values cherished by our community, including self-reliance, focusing social resources on helping those most in need and mutual support among family members. We will continue to improve the Mandatory Provident Fund arrangements, including the introduction of a “core fund”核心基金 with fee control to address the concerns over “high fee” and “difficulty in making fund choices”.

The Government agrees that protection for needy citizens after retirement should be improved. To demonstrate our determination and commitment, I have asked the Financial Secretary to earmark $50 billion to provide for future needs.

6.          長者屋

1997 In the meantime, we will increase the supply of housing for the elderly by introducing a "Senior Citizen Residence Scheme" (「長者住屋計劃」), under which flats will be built in the urban area to lease for life to the elderly.

2007: The Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) hasimplemented a pilot Senior Citizen Residence Scheme. It has beenwell received. We believe that it is necessary to continue thecomprehensive home care approach by expanding the scheme.The HKHS will propose new plans and locations for the elderlyhousing scheme on Hong Kong Island in the near future.

2015: We will provide choices of service for the elderly through  the Senior Citizen Residences Scheme and the Reverse Mortgage  Programme operated by the HKHS and the Hong Kong  Mortgage Corporation Limited respectively. 

7.          長者醫療券

2007: We should care more about the elderly, especially their health care needs. They have made contributions to our society, and they deserve better services in return. I am pleased to announce that the Government will launch a trial scheme under which all citizens aged 70 or above will be given annually five health care vouchers worth $50 each to subsidise primary medical care services they purchase from the private sector. The vouchers can be used for services provided by western and Chinese medicine practitioners, allied health professionals and dental practitioners, as well as for preventive services such as medical examination or vaccination, and therapeutic services. Apart from giving something back to our senior citizens, this initiative enables them to choose more freely various primary medical care services in the local community and therefore reduces the waiting time. It also seeks to encourage the elderly to make good use of primary medical care services and establish a “continuum of care” relationship with family doctors, to better safeguard their health. The health care vouchers will cost some $150 million annually. The three-year trial scheme will be subject to a full review. The Secretary for Food and Health will draw up details of the scheme, which is expected to be implemented in the 2008-09 financial year.

2010: The Government launched the three-year Elderly Healthcare Voucher Pilot Scheme last year to subsidise elderly people aged 70 or above to use private primary care services. An interim review is now underway, and is expected to be completed by the end of this year. We will earmark $1 billion to extend or enhance the pilot scheme having regard to review findings.

2013: We will offer elderly people more diversified choices through a wide range of new and flexible modes of subvention and service delivery. The Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme is a case in point. Our next step is to review the Pilot Scheme on Community Care Service Voucher for the Elderly and explore the feasibility of adopting this voucher subsidy mode for residential care services.

2014: The utilisation rate of the Elderly Health Care Voucher  Pilot Scheme has been increasing since the voucher amount was  doubled last year. To ease the elderly’s demand for public outpatient  services and to enhance their awareness of the  importance of primary care, we propose to further double the  annual voucher amount to $2,000 within this year, while  incorporating the pilot scheme into the regular assistance  programme.    

72. As the scheme also applies to dental services, the  increased amount will enable the elderly to have access to private  dental services. In addition, we will convert the free outreach  primary dental care services for the elderly in residential care  homes or day care centres into a regular programme, and expand  the scope of services to include fillings, extractions and dentures.  The CCF [The Community Care Fund] is Task Force is actively considering expanding the scope  of an existing elderly dental programme to benefit more elderly  people with financial difficulties 

2015: The annual voucher amount under the Elderly Health  Care Voucher Scheme was doubled to $2,000 last year. The  number of elderly people using the vouchers increased to  640 000, with an annual expenditure of some $550 million. The  CCF will expand its Elderly Dental Assistance Programme  progressively in the second half of 2015 to cover elderly persons  who are OALA recipients, starting with those aged 80 and above  in the first phase involving about 130 000 elderly people.

8. 終身學習

2001: We endeavour to help the community to better understand the special needs of old age, and to promote healthy aging. This will help ensure the wellbeing of our senior citizens and the future elderly population. The Elderly Commission has recently launched a three-year ‘Healthy Aging Campaign’ to educate the public on the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle amongst the elderly. The Commission is also studying ways to enhance the image of 33 elderly people, including helping them to pursue lifelong learning and to participate in social activities.康健樂頤年

2009: Apart from strengthening elderly care services, we have all along endeavoured to promote the physical and mental wellbeing of the elderly. The Government has already allocated funds to establish the Elder Academy Development Foundation長者學苑發展基金 to develop the curriculum and learning structure of elder academies長者學苑. We will also provide a one-stop information service through a new and dedicated Internet portal for the elderly, which will enable them to pursue continuous learning, enlarge their social circles and lead a fruitful life.

2013: The Government will provide a convenient living environment for the elderly, and encourage them to take part in community activities and lead a fulfilled life. We have allocated about $900 million under the Lotteries Fund 獎券基金to enhance the facilities and safety of all subvented elderly centres in phases over six years. We expect the first renovated elderly centre to open next month. We will also continue to promote a sense of worthiness among the elderly, promote harmony across generations and encourage lifelong learning through, among others, the Opportunities for the Elderly Project 「老有所為活動計劃and the Elderly Academy Scheme長者學苑計劃.

2014: A total of 108 elder academies have been set up in  primary and secondary schools and tertiary institutions. The  Government plans to inject $50 million into the Elder Academy  Development Foundation. In addition, the popular scheme  allowing the elderly to travel at a concessionary fare of $2 will be  extended in phases to include green minibuses starting from the  first quarter of 2015. 

2015: The Elderly Commission is pressing ahead with the formulation of the Elderly Services Programme Plan and intends to submit a report in mid-2016. Besides, the Government has injected $50 million into the Elder Academy Development Foundation.

Our last strategy is to vigorously promote active ageing. The Government will help the elderly enjoy their retirement life through the Elder Academy Scheme and some 200 elderly centres in the territory. We will encourage them to actively take part in community activities by  promoting senior volunteerism and other programmes

9. 協助回內地養老

2010: As the relationship between Hong Kong and Guangdong grows closer, some of our senior citizens want to retire in Guangdong. There is also a suggestion in the community that the Government should introduce a maintenance allowance for our senior citizens who have retired. This has legal, financial and technical implications that require detailed examination. I have asked the Secretary for Labour and Welfare to study further the feasibility of such arrangements.

2011: For our elderly people retiring in the Mainland, Members of the Steering Committee人口政策督導委員會suggested the provision of better financial support and services in the Mainland.

廣東計劃：We will introduce a new “Guangdong Scheme” under the Social Security Allowance Scheme to provide an old age allowance for eligible Hong Kong elderly people who choose to reside in Guangdong. The rate will be the same as that for the local Old Age Allowance (OAA) in Hong Kong. Upon approval, recipients will be able to receive a full-year allowance in Guangdong without the need to come back to Hong Kong. The Labour and Welfare Bureau will shortly announce the key features. The Guangdong Scheme is based on four special considerations. First, currently Hong Kong elderly people settled in the Mainland mostly live in Guangdong. Second, there are especially close ties between Guangdong and Hong Kong in many aspects. Third, given the policies under the Hong Kong/ Guangdong Co-operation Framework and with the completion of a number of major transport infrastructure projects, the two places will become more closely integrated and travel will be more convenient. Lastly, local elderly people who have moved to Guangdong can still maintain close contact with their relatives and friends here and obtain family support easily.

Apart from financial means and living environment, access to medical services is another consideration for senior citizens when deciding whether to settle in the Mainland. The liberalisation measures for the medical sector under the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) allow Hong Kong medical practitioners to practise or set up clinics or hospitals in the Mainland. In this way, senior citizens residing there may also receive Hong Kongstyle medical services. The first hospital jointly established by the University of Hong Kong and the Shenzhen authorities will come into operation early next year. We will continue to strengthen co-operation between hospitals in Hong Kong and the Mainland, and negotiate with the Mainland measures to streamline the formalities for setting up clinics and hospitals there. We will also explore with Guangdong the cross-boundary patient conveyance arrangements to make it more convenient for Hong Kong patients residing in the Mainland to return to Hong Kong for medical treatment.

10. 長者優惠Concessions for the Elderly

Swimming is a popular sport among the elderly and other age groups. We will introduce a Public Swimming Pool Monthly Ticket Scheme to lighten the burden of frequent elderly swimmers and promote swimming among the public. Public Transport Concessions for the Elderly and People with Disabilities  

Various concessionary fare schemes are currently implemented by major public transport operators for the elderly and people with disabilities. Concessions offered by individual operators vary. I propose to enable elderly people aged 65 or above and eligible people with disabilities to travel on the general MTR lines, franchised buses and ferries anytime at a concessionary fare of $2 a trip. For the revenue forgone, the Government will periodically reimburse the public transport operators on an accountable basis. We will request the operators to continue to absorb the cost of the existing concessions that they voluntarily offer to the elderly and people with disabilities.

2015: To create an elderly-friendly environment, the Government is pressing ahead with the extension of the $2 public transport fare concession scheme to green minibuses in phases starting from the end of March this year. The Universal

Accessibility Programme that I mentioned earlier on will also help elderly people move around the community.

延伸閱讀：
《評台》編輯部, 三大對策──解決香港安老問題, 2015 年 08 月 26 日