Press Releases

Bill to simplify procedures to revise volunteer pension rates

A Bill which aims to simplify the procedures for revising Volunteer and Naval Volunteer pension rates will be published in the Gazette today (Friday).

The Volunteer and Naval Volunteer Pensions Ordinance provides for the payment of pensions, gratuities or other allowances in respect of the death, disablement or sickness of members of the two volunteer forces who fought in the defence of Hong Kong during the Second World War.

"We propose to simplify the adjustments to the Volunteer and Naval Volunteer pensions by establishing a formal link with the annual revision of civil service pensions," a Government spokesman said, "We also propose that the new rates should take effect on the same date as the civil service pension increase, which in practice is 1 April."

The Veterans' Associations consulted welcome the proposal.

The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council on 2 June 1999.

End/Friday, May 28, 1999

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