Acting CE Invites Pan-dems For CSSA Talks

The Acting Chief Executive, Matthew Cheung, says he has invited pan-democratic lawmakers for a meeting on Thursday afternoon to discuss the government’s controversial plan to make people wait until they are 65 before they can apply for an elderly welfare payment.

Speaking before the weekly Executive Council meeting, Cheung said he hopes he can “iron out all misunderstandings” with the pan-dems who strongly oppose the change, which is set to take effect in February.

“I’m really very sincere in my invitation. We want a face-to-face dialogue and iron out all misunderstandings so that we can take the matter forward,” he said.

Currently, eligible people aged 60 or above can apply for the CSSA payments of about HK$3,400 a month.

The opposition lawmakers were angry that the Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, met only pro-government lawmakers before the government announced some steps aimed at pacifying legislators who had passed a non-binding motion against the change by an overwhelming majority.

Cheung said the change in the minimum age for the welfare payment was aimed at “unleashing the potential” of Hong Kong’s labour force in light of the ageing population.

He added that the government would help them find jobs and give them allowances if they can’t find one.

Lam is in Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum's annual meeting in Davos.