The Old Age Pension Scheme: A Tax by Any Other Name

Abstract:     
In July 1994 the Education and Manpower Branch, Government Secretariat of the Hong Kong government issued a pamphlet on its proposals to introduce an old age pension scheme. Given the inadequacy of the government’s current benefits for the elderly, few would object to the creation of a formal pension scheme. This article raises two objections to the proposed pension scheme: (1) the inherent unfairness of compelling individuals – such as foreign workers, Hong Kong emigrants, and Hong Kong residents who travel for extended periods – to contribute to a pension scheme (without the possibility of receiving a rebate or exemption) from which they may never benefit, and indeed, may not be permitted to benefit, and (2) the government’s failure to admit that compelled contributions to the proposed pension scheme are in fact a tax.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 9

Accepted Paper Series