1.
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THURSDAY,
AT PRESENT, THOSE RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CAN APPLY FOR INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE IF THEY REACH THE AGE LIMIT, WHILE THOSE UNDER INSTITUTIONAL CARE CANNOT,
MISS KO THOUGHT THE GOVERNMENT HAD YET TO DEFINE THE NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY, AND TO ASSESS THE WAYS IN WHICH THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME, THE INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE SCHEME AND OTHER SOCIAL SERVICE +CAN BEST WORK TOGETHER TO HELP PROVIDE OLD PEOPLE WITH A SATISFACTORY QUALITY OF LIFE+.
FURTHERMORE, SHE FELT THAT SINCE THE INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE SCHEME HAD BEEN IN OPERATION FOR THREE YEARS, IT WAS ALSO TIME TO REVIEW ITS EFFECTIVENESS AND BRING IT CLOSER TO ACHIEVING ITS OBJECTIVES OF MEETING THE ADDITIONAL NEEDS OF THE ELDERLY INFIRM.
ON SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS, THE UNCFFICIAL MEMBER EMPHASISED THAT THE GOVERNMENT MUST RECOGNISE THE →INDISPUTABLE VALUE OF THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR AND SUBVENT TO THE FULL THE COSTS WHICH VOLUNTARY AGENCIES INCURRED
IN EXPANDING THEIR SERVICES.
+THE PRACTICE OF UNDERPAYING STAFF EMPLOYED BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES MUST BE STOPPED, SHE SAID, NOT MERELY BECAUSE OF THE INJUSTICE OF SUCH PRACTICES, BUT IN RECOGNITION OF THE CONTRIBUTION THESE DEDICATED WORKERS MAKE IN PROMOTING. THE WELFARE OF THE COMMUNITY.+
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