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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, on Guangdong Scheme after attending a radio programme today (October 1):
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: The Guangdong Scheme of the Old Age Allowance Scheme will formally start today. In fact, it marks a very important step forward in providing assistance for our elderly citizens who choose to retire on the Mainland, particularly in Guangdong. And also it provides financial assistance for those elderly citizens already settled in Guangdong. Up to last night, we've received 13 360 applications. I would describe it as a very encouraging response. We will start interviewing the applicants by batches, from tomorrow onwards. But I assure all the applicants that if you are eligible, you will get back pay counting from October 1. So, don't worry about the date of the interview. We adopt a very flexible, compassionate approach. And for those elderly who don't have any bank accounts in Hong Kong, they can actually get the money through their own relatives or friends. And also for those who don't have any contacts in Hong Kong at all, we can arrange the International Social Service Hong Kong Branch to act as a contact point to provide assistance to them. So the whole arrangement is user-friendly.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Issued at HKT 12:52
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