Government short of lawmakers' votes for senior allowance

Will the proposed $2,200-a-month support push through?

Chief Secretary Carrie Lam says the Government will continue to persuade lawmakers to support its $2,200-a-month old age living allowance proposal - and that there is no room to amend it.

Speaking to the media after a public function today, Mrs Lam said she believes the Government has not yet secured enough votes from lawmakers.

She said the Government would not change the income and asset declaration requirement and would not withdraw the fund application because the move would upset many seniors.

She said the plan would benefit 400,000 seniors and the first batch of recipients could only receive the allowance after the Legislative Council approves the funding on Friday.

Mrs Lam said the administration would continue to lobby legislators and hopes they could support the plan, adding about 290,000 elders would receive the payment automatically because they have been declared to be 65 to 69 years old.