'CSSA Change Forcing Many Elderly Back To Work'

Several groups protested outside the government's headquarters on Wednesday against a change to the age limit for an elderly welfare scheme, accusing the authorities of forcing many older people to find jobs to survive.

Almost a hundred protesters – including politicians, social workers, and elderly people – joined the demonstration held ahead of a Legco welfare panel meeting later in the day.

One of them, a 59-year-old surnamed Lok, said: "I have poor eyesight and I can't lift my left arm properly. With this poor health and old age I don't think any employer will give me a job."

The protesters accused the government of forcing such people back into work even when they are not well.

Pro-democracy lawmaker Fernando Cheung, who also attended the protest, said he was confident that a motion urging the government to review the entire CSSA system would be passed by the welfare panel.

Cheung had also proposed an amendment to the motion, demanding the government scrap the move to increase the age threshold for elderly CSSA from 60 to 65.