積金局建議為強積金引入核心基金，諮詢公眾三個月。該基金專為沒有或不想作投資選擇的僱員而設，投資風險隨年齡增長而遞減，管理費以百分之一為上限。基金由公共信託人管理，但公共信託人不一定是政府。這是繼半自由行後，強積金又一新花樣，意欲提高投資效益，至於成效如何實在令人懷疑。

強積金自千禧年十二月推出以來，一直效益不彰，備受詬病，問題主要是高收費、低回報，有的更被蠶食本金。打工仔冷待半自由行，是對強積金不信任的反映，至於核心基金，政府未上陣先卸膊，正是強積金唔湯唔水的關鍵。因此，無論當局對強積金如何修修補補，難改市民對退休無保障的徬徨，對老無所養的不安。

本港的全民退休保障概念早在上世紀六十年代就提出，直至九十年代定下以強積金權充退休保障，實際卻無從保障，其後修修補補，政府始終不願承擔。港府對外張揚財力豐厚，對內則哭窮訴苦，對近年社會提出的全民退保計劃拖得就拖，其實，愈拖老年化逼得愈緊，政府日後更難承擔。一言以蔽之，市民期盼全民退保，只有望天打卦。

The core fund is just a patchwork remedy

The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority（MPFA）proposes the introduction of a core fund（CF）and starts consulting the public for a period of three months.The CF is especially designed for employees who have not made or do not want to make an investment choice.The investment risk of the CF will decrease as the employee ages, and its management fee is capped at 1%.While the CF will be managed by a public trustee,the public trustee is not necessarily the government.After the Employee Choice Arrangement （ECA）,this is yet another gimmick launched by the MPFA that aims to enhance investment efficiency.The efficacy, however,is doubtful.

Ever since its inception in December 2000,the Mandatory Provident Fund（MPF）has proven to be ineffective and has been castigated by the public.The problems are mainly high cost and low return,whereas some investments even saw their capitals eroded.The cold shoulder given to the ECA by people in the workforce is simply a reflection of their distrust in the MFA system.As for the CF,the government has passed the buck even before it is launched.This is exactly why the MPF system is neither here nor there.Under such circumstances,no matter how the government patches the system,the people are still anxious about their under-protected retired lives.

The concept of universal retirement protection scheme was first put forward in Hong Kong in the 60s of the last century.In the 90s,it was decided that the MPF be made a retirement protection,which in reality it has never offered any.The MPF system was amended bit by bit afterwards,but the government has never made any commitment all along.Showing off its wealth externally and lamenting its impoverishment internally,the government keeps on procrastinating the universal retirement protection scheme demanded by the community in recent years.The more the government drags its feet,the more the population ages.In a nutshell,the people are only left to the mercy of God if they want to enjoy universal retirement protection.

重要生字

patchwork remedy 小修小補

give the cold shoulder to 冷待

neither here nor there 唔湯唔水

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