FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1977
VITAL ROLE OF VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES REAFFIRMED
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NEW PLANS ON SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES WILL OFFER TREMENDOUS SCOPE FOR BOTH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR TO EXPAND THEIR EXISTING SERVICES AND ENTER INTO NEW ENDEAVOURS, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE KOWLOON CARITAS SOCIAL CENTRE'S 10TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS, MR. LEE NOTED THAT +WHILE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPLEMENTING GOVERNMENT SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY RESTS WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE PROVISION OF SUCH SERVICES, +
ON SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, MR. LEE SAID THAT THE GREEN PAPER WOULD RECOMMEND EXPANSION IN THE FIELD OF INSTITUTIONAL CARE TOGETHER WITH THE SETTING UP OF NEW FACILITIES FOR DAY CARE. RECREATIONAL SERVICES AND HOME HELP SERVICE FOR THE ELDERLY WHO CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THE COMMUNITY.
+CARE FOR THE ELDERLY HAS BEEN ONE OF THE POPULAR SERVICES AMONG THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND THEY WILL NO DOUBT WELCOME OPPORTUNITIES TO DO MORE FOR OUR SENIOR CITIZENS, HE REMARKED.
TURNING TO PERSONAL SERVICES FOR YOUTH, MR. LEE INDICATED THAT THE NEW PROPOSAL PROVIDES FOR COMPREHENSIVE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK SERVICES, A CAUTIOUS EXPANSION OF OUT-REACHING SOCIAL WORK IN AREAS KNOWN TO HAVE A HIGHER INCIDENCE OF DELINQUENCY, AND INTENSIVE EFFORT IN FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION.
HE SAID THAT AT PRESENT A NUMBER OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ARE ALREADY PROVIDING, IN VARYING DEGREES, THESE SERVICES GEARED TOWARDS TACKLING YOUTH PROBLEMS AT AN EARLY STAGE, AND RECOMMENDATIONS WOULD BE MADE TO REINFORCE THESE SERVICES WITH GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE.
ON REHABILITATION, HE POINTED OUT THAT VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED WITH THE WELFARE OF THE HANDICAPPED WOULD BE EXPECTED TO RUN, SIDE BY SIDE WITH GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, SOME OF THE PROJECTS IN THE RECENTLY ANNOUNCED 10-YEAR PROGRAMME PLAN.
+THEY WILL ALSO BE WELCOMED TO TAKE UP SOME OF THE NEW PROJECTS IN THE VARIOUS SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED WITH THE GOVERNMENT ENSURING FINANCIAL SUPPORT, + HE ADDED.
MR. LEE THEN COMMENDED THE CARITAS FOR ITS INVALUABLE SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY IN HONG KONG FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS.
ON THE KOWLOON CARITAS SOCIAL CENTRE, MR. LEE NOTED THAT SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT IN 1967, THE CENTRE HAS THRIVED AS ONE OF THE SEVEN MULTI-PURPOSE CENTRES OF CARITAS, RENDERING A WIDE RANGE OF SOCIAL SERVICES WHICH INCLUDE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK, FAMILY WELFARE, YOUTH AND CLUB ACTIVITIES, HOSTEL, ADULT EDUCATION, MEDICAL AND DENTAL FACILITIES TO THE PEOPLE OF WEST KOWLOON AREA.
/+THE CENTRE