WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1977
UNOFFICIALS COMMENT ON GREEN PAPER
ON FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES IN HK ******
AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY, NINE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS MADE WIDE-RANGING COMMENTS ON THE GREEN PAPER ON THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES IN HONG KONG WHICH WAS PUBLISHED LAST OCTOBER.
AMONG THE POINTS RAISED WERE THE CREATION OF A SEPARATE VOTE FOR REHABILITATION SERVICES IN THE GOVERNMENT'S BUDGET, THE INTRODUCTION OF A COMPREHENSIVE STAFF TRAINING PROGRAMME AND THE WIDER PROVISION OF EDUCATIONAL AND JOB PLACEMENT SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED.
THE UNOFFICIALS WERE SPEAKING ON A MOTION THAT THE COUNCIL TAKES NOTE OF THE FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE PROGRAMME PLAN FOR REHABILITATION SERVICES AS SUMMARISED IN THE GREEN PAPER AND ANTICIPATES THAT A DEFINITIVE PROGRAMME OF DEVELOPMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN A GOVERNMENT WHITE PAPER WHICH WILL BE TABLED IN THE COUNCIL IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
IN MOVING THE MOTION, DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG DESCRIBED THE GREEN PAPER AS A GENUINE ADMISSION OF OUR DEFICIENCIES AND AN ENERGETIC ATTEMPT IN PUTTING REHABILITATION SERVICES IN THE RIGHT PERSPECTIVE+,
DR. FANG PROPOSED THAT INSTEAD OF BEING FUNDED MAINLY THROUGH THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH, EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENTS, REHABILITATION SERVICES SHOULD BE FUNDED IN FUTURE UNDER A SEPARATE ITEM AMONG THE HEADS OF GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE.
+ IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING, THE FUNDING OF REHABILITATION SERVICES IN FUTURE MUST BE GUARANTEED IN SUCH A WAY THAT IT WILL NOT BE SUBMERGED UNDER VARIOUS DEPARTMENTAL BUDGETS, HE SAID.
DR. FANG SUGGESTED THAT THE PRIORITY FOR FUNDING OF ALL NEW PROJECTS MUST BE DECIDED AT THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE (RDCC) TO BE SET UP UNDER THE GREEN PAPER.
+THE IDEAL SITUATION IS TO HAVE A SEPARATE VOTE FOR REHABILITATION IN THE GOVERNMENT'S BUDGET FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND FOR THE ALLOCATION OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO BE MONITORED BY THE RDCC ON WHICH THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR AND ALL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED INCLUDING THE FINANCE BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT SHOULD BE REPRESENTED.+
COMMENTING ON THE TOTAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, DR. FANG CONSIDERED THE SUM OF $75 MILLION FOR THE DECADE 1975-85 AS ESTIMATED
IN THE GREEN PAPER TO BE +ON THE LOW SIDE+ BECAUSE THERE APPEARED TO BE AN INADEQUATE ESTIMATION IN THE CHAPTER ON SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES.
/MANY.
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