1.
Monday, January 15, 1973
DRAFT WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL WELFARE
Social Welfare Planning Committee Considers Public Comments
Preparation of the draft white paper on social welfare in the years
ahead and its accompanying five-year plan as "a joint exercise between the
Government and the private sector" was generally endorsed by the public,
according to a breakdown of comments received.
The draft white paper was tabled in the Legislative Council on
October 18, 1972, and a foreword invited members of the public to submit
their views to the Social Welfare Planning Committee.
In response to this invitation, Mr. F.K. Li, Director of Social
Welfare and Chairman of the Committee, said today 167 comments had been
received, including eight letters from government departments, 27 from various
kaifong associations, 18 from voluntary agencies, 15 from the universities,
colleges and schools, and 46 from individuals.
There was a general welcome for the draft white paper, which was
recognised as the "most obvious sign that social welfare had come of age
in Hong Kong," and which was "most explicitly seen in the fact that the
Government accepted ultimate responsibility for the provision of satisfactory
social welfare services."
Many comments were received on the proposed disability and infirmity
allowance scheme. There was unanimous support for a non-means tested scheme.
Some people felt that to define the infirm as over 75 was too high a limit,
and the majority of these criticisms suggested 70 instead.
The intention