Positive view to policy address

Housing and quality of life rank as the top two issues that people in Hong Kong want to hear about in Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying's maiden policy address this month. The sentiments are revealed in a survey of 758 respondents by the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies.

The survey, carried out last month, showed that 50.7 percent of those polled indicated they had "some expectations" for the Jan 16 speech. Another 13.5 percent claimed they had "high expectations", while the remainder said they had "no expectation" or apprehension from the address.

Researchers at the institute said the new administration has been in office only for about six months, thus making it understandable that some people have shown minimal expectations.

Meanwhile, 33.8 percent of respondents suggested "revving up public housing construction" as a key measure for solving the housing problem, while 33.8 percent wanted a "universal retirement scheme" to be set up.

Liberals propose work for welfare

A Liberal Party survey reveals that the vast majority of people favor a cap on unemployment assistance in order to avoid serious abuse of social welfare. The survey of 1,200 people found that 80 percent favor a cap on assistance.

Statistics show that the number of unemployed welfare recipients doubled between 2004 and October last year.

As a result, the party is calling on the government to reform the Support for Self-reliance Scheme, requiring recipients to work eight hours a day, five days a week. The party proposes a two-year cap on unemployment benefits for able-bodied recipients aged 15 to 59.

Liberal Party legislator James Tien Pei-chun said there should be an independent committee to review whether those suffering genuine hardship deserve assistance after the two-year period.

Late arrivals plague bus riders

A survey by the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions shows about 20 percent of buses operating in the city show up late, sometimes by more than 10 minutes, after their scheduled times.

The union surveyed 66 bus lines covering 518 buses in Hong Kong, between the end of November and the middle of December. It found that 127 buses included in the survey did not arrive at stations at the specified time. Hong Kong Island had the highest proportion of tardy arrivals, almost 30 percent, while 23 percent arrived late in Kowloon and 25 percent in New Territories West. Kowloon Motor Bus Company said it will increase manpower to try to improve its record.

Survey on job training starts

The Census & Statistics Department has launched a survey covering about 7,000 establishments to gauge employers' views on manpower training and job skill requirements.

Information collected will include general data on the establishment and their manpower and job skill requirements for the medium term. The information will provide the government with crucial data for program planning and policy formulation.

Questionnaires were sent to selected establishments on January 2 and recipients are required to return them to the department by January 18.

China Daily

(HK Edition 01/04/2013 page1)