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Wednesday, November 1, 1972
Mr. Wang believed priority should be given to the building of
schools for technical and pre-vocational training to meet the demand for
these places.
On medical services, Mr. Wang called for the development of an
extensive network of clinics for the convenience of residents and workers
in each district, as one way of improving and consolidating the quality of
services provided.
He also hoped that the government would become more involved in
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the field of training dentists if not by providing courses in the
universities then by greatly increasing the number of scholarships or
bursaries available for study abroad.
Mr. Wang supported the proposals contained in the White Paper
on social welfare, particularly with regard to expanding the present community
and youth officer scheme, and the network of community centres. He described
them as practical and useful ways of helping to improve the quality of life
in our communities.
He said it was right that the proposed disability and infirmity
allowance scheme should operate without a means test. Besides being inflexible
and tedious, and time and money consuming, the test could have a damaging and
depressing effect on the people it aimed to cheer up.
Mr. Wang also believed that a disabled or elderly person still
capable of working should not be discouraged from so doing and whatever
money he earned should become a bonus over and above the public assistance
he received.
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