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SOCIAL WELFARE
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THE Director of Social Welfare is responsible for carrying out government policies on social security and social welfare, based on the objectives set out in three White Papers Integrating the Disabled into the Community: A United Effort (1977), Social Welfare into the 1980s (1979), and Primary Education and Pre-primary Services (1981).
The government is advised on social welfare policy by two committees - the Social Welfare Advisory Committee, covering the whole area of social welfare, and the Rehabilitation Development Co-ordinating Committee, on matters of rehabilitation. Members of these committees are appointed by the Governor, with non-officials as chairmen.
In the provision of welfare services, the Social Welfare Department maintains a close working partnership with non-governmental welfare agencies, most of which are affiliated to the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (See Appendix 32A).
At the end of 1990, the standard cost subvention system was extended to a total of 21 services. Funds will be made available for the extension of the standard cost subvention system to three more services early in 1991.
In the constant drive to provide more and better welfare services to meet the changing needs of the community, the government increased spending on social welfare in 1990-91 by 20 per cent to $4,946 million.
To ensure that social welfare policies continue to meet the needs of Hong Kong into the 1990s, the Governor announced in October 1989 a review of social welfare services, to be conducted in conjunction with the subvented welfare sector. A working party was subsequently set up under the chairmanship of the Secretary for Health and Welfare. It was charged with reviewing the various programme areas in the social welfare field and with drafting a White Paper to set out proposals for the way forward. The review covered those services which fall within the policy purview of the Secretary for Health and Welfare, excluding rehabilitation services which have been developed under a separate White Paper and are subject to a different consultative network.
The working party started its deliberations in mid-January 1990. A draft White Paper was issued early in September for public consultation. At the end of a three-month consultative period, the working party assessed public comments and adjusted its recom- mendations accordingly.
The advice of the Social Welfare Advisory Committee will be sought on the draft White Paper. The draft will be submitted to the Governor in Council, before being tabled in the