- 13.
Wednesday, November 15, 1972
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL WELFARE
The draft white paper on social welfare policy has laid the foundation
for translating community concern into practical social-welfare programmes of
which the people of Hong Kong can be proud.
"The important thing is to sustain the impetus for progress," the
retiring Director of Social Welfare, the Hon. G.T. Rowe, told the Legislative
Council today.
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"I believe the joint planning machinery between the Social Welfare
Department and the voluntary agencies that has been established will provide
an effective means of doing so."
He was speaking at the resumed debate on Hong Kong affairs, taking
the occasion to reply to points raised by unofficial members, six of whom had
referred to the white paper in their speeches two weeks ago.
It was Mr. Rowe's last speech and appearance in the Council before
departing from Hong Kong on leave prior to retirement. He described his four
years as Director of Social Welfare as "exciting and challenging," and he thanked
members for the support they had always given him, and the interest they had
expressed in social welfare matters.
He said he had been "particularly glad" that the production of the
white paper had involved the voluntary agencies, because they had had, and would
continue to have, "a vital role to play in the provision of social welfare
services in Hong Kong."
The joint