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Monday, June 25, 1973
GREATER GOVERNMENT PARTICIPATION WITH
VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN PLANNING SOCIAL SERVICES
Changes that will result in a different relationship between the
Social Welfare Department, representing the government, and the voluntary
agencies were foreshadowed today.
This change will mean government taking a more active part in the
planning of services provided by the voluntary agencies.
Mr. K.S. Hardy, Chief Executive Officer of the Social Welfare
Department outlined the plan today when he presented a paper on "Government
Subvention Present Role and Future Development" at the quarterly meeting
of the Hong Kong Council of Social Service.
In his paper, Mr. Hardy epelt out the future lines the department
was hoping to take in regard to subventing the voluntary agencies.
Dealing with the present situation, Mr. Hardy said "...... until
now due to a large measure of self sufficiency the voluntary agencies have
maintained that the Social. Welfare Department subvention to them has
largely been in the nature of a lump-sum grant in aid."
But he said changing attitudes towards Hong Kong which is no longer
considered as an under-developed territory, has resulted in overseas donations
to the voluntary agencies falling to about 30 per cent of what they were
in the early post war years.
The voluntary agencies are now finding it difficult to raise
sufficient funds to continue their activities at the established levels of
efficiency.
"Because