Legco To Hold 'ultimatum' Meeting On CSSA Change

Lawmakers said on Monday that they will hold a special meeting to discuss a change to benefits for poor elderly people that will see the age for claiming the funds raised from 60 to 65.

The welfare panel meeting on January 28 – just four days before the change is to come into effect – should be seen as an "ultimatum" for officials, said panel chairman Roy Kwong from the Democratic Party.

Pan-democrats and pro-establishment legislators have complained in recent days about the new age requirement for elderly CSSA, despite approving the move as part of last year's budget.

Labour and Welfare Secretary Law Chi-kwong said he should be able to attend the panel's meeting.

But he also told RTHK's Janice Wong that it is highly unlikely that any changes to the government's plan on CSSA will now be made.

He added, however, that other measures will be taken later this month to help those in need, including a possible increase in the amount of income that welfare recipients are allowed to earn before their payments are affected.

Around two dozen people held a protest outside Legco on Monday over the policy change.

The Democratic Party's Andrew Wan said he fears this is just the first step of a government plan to tighten the eligibility requirements for various welfare measures, including public housing.

"Hong Kong is such a wealthy society. I don't see that we have any financial difficulties to have to do such things. This is unfair to elderly people," Wan said.

Meanwhile, a homeless man is seeking legal aid to take the government to court over the change to the CSSA eligibility criteria. The man, surnamed Lai, will turn 60 in a few months' time. He wants to argue in court that the shift in policy is unconstitutional.