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Wednesday, March 29, 1972
SUBVENTIONS FOR VOLUNTARY WELFARE ORGANISATIONS
Financial Secretary Explains Allocation Methods
The Financial Secretary, the Hon. C.P. Haddon-Cave indicated to
the Legislative Council today there would be no change, at least for the
time being, in the bases upon which subventions are made to voluntary
welfare organisations.
Speaking at the resumed Budget debate, he said nearly all subvented
voluntary organisations were being assisted on the discretionary grant basis.
Government, he explained, was still operating on this basis, largely
because it had not yet crystallised its views on the development of social
welfare services through the voluntary sector.
However, he understood that the Director of Social Welfare was now
formulating revised ains for social welfare and drawing up specific targets
to meet these ains over a five year period.
"Subject to these recommendations being accepted by Government, I
an confident it will be possible to devise ways and means to enable public
funds to be applied more positively and meaningfully, "Mr. Haddon-Cave said.
The Financial Secretary was replying to a point raised by the Hon.
Mrs. Ellen Li, who had suggested that a system of what she called deficit
subsidies be adopted by Government for social welfare services in very much
the same way as medical and education subsidies, if a uniformly high standard
of service was to be maintained.
/Explaining