The third Cross-Straits Pension System Forum opened in Hong Kong on 25 October and will end on 28 October 2011. The conference is co-hosted by the Social Science Research Centre on Contemporary China, the University of Macau’s (UM) Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, the Macau Social Security Society, as well as other related organizations, including China Social Insurance Association (CSIA), Taiwan Pension Fund Association (TPFA), Hong Kong Retirement Schemes Association (HKRSA) and Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS).
The conference is divided into two parts: the Hong Kong session and the Macao session. The Hong Kong session took place in the Harbour Grand Hong Kong on 26 October. The Macao session took place on 27 October, in HG01, Ho Yin Convention Centre, UM, with the open-door seminar lasting from 8:45 to 12:15, and the close-door discussion lasting from 14:00 to 18:15. The main topic of the Macao session is “Resources for Pension System and Elderly Services Development”.
Faced with the problems of an ageing society, widening income disparity and rising inflation, governments in the four cross-straits regions (Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and mainland China) are constantly seeking to improve their pension systems and services for the senior citizens. For instance, the Macao SAR government has increased old age allowances and old age pensions, and the Non-Mandatory Central Provident Fund has also been introduced in an attempt to optimize the pension system. Moreover, in order to upgrade the quality of services for senior citizens, The Macao SAR government is working on the establishment of a Central Referral Mechanism and Macao Ageing Index. It also plans to conduct a second-phase “Elderly Welfare Protection Act” consultation. Given this context, the organizer hopes that the conference can provide a platform for the participants to share relevant experience and insights for the further improvement of relevant policies in Macao.