MEDICAL BENEFITS FOR DEPENDANTS OF FEMALE PUBLIC SECTOR EMPLOYEES

Mrs Yu-Foo Yee Shoon asked the Minister for Finance what is the present stage of the feasibility study carried out by his Ministry on medical benefits for dependants of female employees in the public sector.

Dr Richard Hu Tsu Tau: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of Finance has reviewed the question of medical benefits for dependants of female officers and has decided to adopt a liberal approach in granting such benefits to female officers who are sole supporters of their families. This means that female officers who are divorced, widowed or granted a decree of judicial separation will in future be automatically granted medical benefits for their dependants. The benefits would also be granted in other cases where the female officers are the sole supporters of their families, as in cases where the spouses cannot work for health reasons.