Mandatory Provident Funds in Hong Kong: Too Little, Too Late
This article examines the history of the establishment of the MPF and its scope to show that the retirement protection it offers is belated and inadequate. In particular, it argues that, on the one hand, the delay and limited scale of the MPF are due in large part to factors such as the reluctance of the government to provide income protection for the elderly, the predominant influence of the vocal business sector, and the absence of a democratically elected and powerful legislature. On the other hand, the democratization of the legislature has been a major factor in bringing forth the MPF, even though this is not the ideal solution preferred by the general public.
The Transformation of the Hong Kong Legislative Council 1970-1994: From Consensus to Confrontation
Over the past ten years, the Legislative Council has changed from a wholly appointed body subservient to the executive into an obstreperous assembly with an elected majority where government proposals are frequently defeated. This article examines the behaviour of legislators in the period before 1985, during the years 1985 to 1991 when elected members were in a minority, and in the most recent period following the 1991 elections. The rules and procedures used by the colonial administration to control the legislature in the past, and the extent to which they still remain effective in limiting its power, are discussed. In all other colonies at a similar stage of constitutional development, Britain appointed elected members to the Executive Council, but this has not been done in Hong Kong because of objections from China.
Industrialization in Singapore
of the government in promoting industrialization that made firms want to locate in Singapore, but rather the general qualities of good government: the efficiency of agencies with which the industrialist came into contact, the utilities available, and the sophisticated system of public finance. In his book, Dr. Lee neither tests theories nor develops hypotheses. He simply has brought together material so that the information is not lost, and so that "other countries could pick a lesson or two for their own reference." The period covered is the thirteen post-war transitional years that led to (and, for Malaya, included) the first years of independence. The successful development he speaks of has been most evident in recent years. The first chapter is an introduction, in which the author lists three questions that have apparently guided the rest of the study: (i) What were the relative sizes of the foreign and domestic components of GNP? (2) Did the government take appropriate steps to make growth selfsustaining? and (3) Did the government have a sound tax system to raise revenues with income expansion, and plans for financing development expenditures? A fourth question—What were the constitutional and political limitations or constraints on the public sector?—is raised but barely touched upon, the author having limited his study to the financial organization and operation of the public sector. Chapter II describes the structure of the economy for Malaya and Singapore, the growth that occurred during the period covered, and the dependence of that growth on the primary sector. Included are estimates—from a variety of sources—for Gross National Product, Gross Domestic Product, and components of expenditures on GNP; external trade; and population and labor force. Chapter III describes the economy and the public sector, and presents the author's estimates for government sector components of Gross National Income for Malaya (there is very little about Singapore in this chapter). This chapter also discusses the history and workings of the Currency Board and the Malayan Civil Service. Chapter IV describes the governmental process in the two areas, including a description of the first development planning. Chapter V describes the system of taxation. The major sources of revenue were export taxes (only in Malaya), import taxes, and income taxes. Chapter VI describes current expenditures; and Chapter VII, capital expenditures. JOURNAL OF ASIAN STUDIES