CSSA Age Limit Raised Despite Last-minute Plea

Three social worker groups have failed in a last-ditch attempt to persuade the government not to tighten elderly welfare eligibility by lifting the threshold age to 65 from 60.

Representatives met with the Welfare Secretary, Law Chi-kwong, on Thursday evening, just hours before the change took effect.

They say Mr Law told them that the Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, can't reverse her decision.

The President of the Hong Kong Social Workers Association, Irene Leung, says the groups will now focus on lobbying for improvements to the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance.

The proposal has angered legislators across the political spectrum, with pan-democrats and pro-establishment lawmakers accusing the government of overlooking the plight of the elderly.

The government offered an olive branch after holding talks with some pro-government lawmakers in January, announcing that welfare recipients aged 60 to 64 would receive allowances of about HK$1,000 to make up for the change.