3
Thursday, March 1, 1973
GOVERNMENT BOOSTS AID TO VOLUNTARY VELFARE. AGENCIES
Government will provide a 25 per cent boost in financial aid
for voluntary social welfare agencies during 1973-74.
The total amount for subventions is more than $25 million
a $5 million increase on the figure for the present financial year.
The higher subventions follow detailed consideration of recomm-
endations put forward by the Social Welfare Advisory Committee.
The Director of Social Welfare, Mr. F.K. Li, who is chairman
of the Committee, said today that subventions would be paid to 76 local
voluntary agencies seven more than in the present financial year.
"The increased subventions reflect Government's recognition of
the valuable work performed by voluntary agencies," he said.
"Financial aid paid out by government to these agencies has
increased very significantly in recent years. We have more than doubled
the subventions allocated in 1969-70, when the total was in the region of
$11.6 million."
Mr. Li said that further detailed financial study by the Social
Welfare Department and the Social Welfare Advisory Committee was required
of some of the subvention recommendations put forward for 1973-74, and
close consultations would take place with the agencies concerned.