Li Jiachao: Elderly people living in Guangdong and Fujian will be able to choose to transfer their cash allowance into mainland accounts starting next month.

Today, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Carrie Lam, had a tea gathering with a group of elderly Hong Kong residents living in Fujian, in order to understand their retirement life in the province. Lam pointed out that the SAR government is currently implementing the "Fujian Scheme" to provide support for eligible Hong Kong elderly who choose to retire in Fujian. Some of the elderly who attended the meeting today are beneficiaries of the "Fujian Scheme". Lam said that she was pleased to hear the elderly say that the monthly cash allowance provided by the SAR government has effectively improved their retirement living standards, and that everyone is living comfortably and happily in Fujian. Lam mentioned that in last year's Policy Address, she proposed that the SAR government would optimize the distribution arrangements for cash assistance, allowing Hong Kong elderly beneficiaries who retire in Guangdong and Fujian provinces to choose to have the funds directly transferred to their designated bank accounts on the mainland by the SAR government. Lam specifically informed the elderly present that this new service will be launched next month, believing that it will further facilitate the elderly in receiving their allowances and make retirement life more secure.