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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1977
UNOFFICIAL MEMBER PRAISES REHABILITATION PLAN
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THE PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER ON REHABILITATION AND THE APPOINTMENT OF A CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE IS AN EXCELLENT CURTAIN- RAISER TO A YEAR OF SOCIAL PROGRESS+.
SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, DR. THE HON. HENRY HU SAID THE PROGRESS IN EDUCATION, HEALTH AND SOCIAL WELFARE OUTLINED BY THE GOVERNOR WOULD TOGETHER LEAD TO A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE MORE NEEDY SECTIONS OF OUR POPULATION.
HE HAD HOWEVER A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE ON THE VARIOUS PLANS. WHILE HE WISHED EVERY SUCCESS TO THE CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE, HE FELT THAT THE MAGNITUDE AND COMPLEXITY OF ITS TASK REQUIRED THE APPOINTMENT OF A COMMISSIONER OF REHABILITATION.
A PERSON OF SUCH RANK AND STATUS WOULD CERTAINLY ADD STRENGTH TO IT AND WOULD SERVE AS A FOCUS. + IT IS FAR EASIER TO RELATE TO A MAN THAN TO A COMMITTEE OR A UNIT IN THE SOCIAL SERVICES BRANCH, HE SAID.
TO OVERCOME THE LACK OF TRAINED STAFF - ONE OF THE BIGGEST STUMBLING BLOCKS IN THE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME, DR. HU SOUGHT REASSURANCE THAT THE PROBLEM HAD HIGH GOVERNMENT PRIORITY AND THAT PLANS WERE IN HAND TO SOLVE IT AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.
AS TO THE PROPOSED CHANGES IN THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME, DR. HU URGED THAT IT WAS TIME TO REVIEW THE METHOD OF COMPILING THE ALLOWANCE INDEX AND THE LEVEL OF PAYMENTS.
MORE MIGHT BE NEEDED TO IMPROVE THE DIGNITY OF MAN AND GIVE HIM A SENSE OF WORTH IN SOCIETY, HE SAID.
DR. HU SAID THE VOLUNTARY WELFARE SECTOR WHICH HAD PLAYED AN ACTIVE AND STRATEGIC ROLE IN DRAFTING THE PROGRAMME PLANS FOR SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY AND YOUTH, WELCOMED THE GREEN PAPERS TO BE ISSUED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
THERE WAS CONCERN HOWEVER THAT THE PERSONAL SERVICES FOR YOUTH PROGRAMME PLAN DID NOT GO FAR OR WAS BROAD ENOUGH IN APPROACH.
+THERE IS A NEED TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAMME WHICH CUTS ACROSS ALL OF THE VARIOUS DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES SERVING YOUTH, HE SAID, SIMILAR TO THE APPROACH TAKEN FOR THE DISABLED AND ELDERLY. HE CAUTIONED THAT ANY RE-STRUCTURING OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SHOULD ONLY BE UNDERTAKEN AFTER THOROUGH DISCUSSION AND CONSULTATION WITH THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR.
THE SECTOR ALSO NEEDED AN IMPROVED SUBVENTION SYSTEM TO PLAN AHEAD WITH CONFIDENCE AND HE TRUSTED THAT THE PROPOSALS PUT TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE BY THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE WOULD HELP TO SOLVE THE LONG-STANDING PROBLEM.
ON THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, DR. HU SUGGESTED THAT CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN TO UPGRADE IT TO SECRETARIAL LEVEL. IT HAD A SIGNIFICANT ROLE TO PLAY IN LABOUR MATTERS AND HAD ACHIEVED A GREAT DEAL IN THE PAST FEW YEARS IN BRINGING FORWARD VARIOUS ITEMS OF LABOUR LEGISLATION TO BETTER THE LOT OF OUR WORKERS, HE SAID.
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