WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1977
GREEN PAPERS ON SOCIAL WELFARE OUTLINED ******
TODAY
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, THE HON. THOMAS LEE, OUTLINED THE DETAILS OF THE THREE GREEN PAPERS ON SOCIAL SECURITY, SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY AND PERSONAL SOCIAL WORK FOR YOUTH.
SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE MOTION OF THANKS FOR THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS, MR. LEE SAID, IF THEY ARE APPROVED AND IMPLEMENTED, THEY WILL MARK A SUBSTANTIAL STEP FORWARD IN THE COVERAGE AND IMPACT OF OUR SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES.+
+WE MUST MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO MOVE FORWARD AS FAST AS IS PRACTICABLE AND THAT WE SHALL DO. BUT EQUALLY WE MUST NOT TRY TO MOVE FORWARD SO FAST THAT WE OVERREACH OURSELVES,+ HE SAID.
MR. LEE POINTED OUT THAT A DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME WHICH WAS BADLY EXECUTED MIGHT WELL BE WORSE THAN NO PROGRAMME AT ALL.
HE SAID, +WE SHOULD DO LITTLE SERVICE TO HONG KONG IF WE WERE TO RAISE PEOPLE'S HOPES WITH NEW PROPOSALS BUT THEN, BY FAILING TO IMPLEMENT THEM EFFECTIVELY, REPLACE HOPE BY DISAPPOINTMENT.+
MR. LEE STRESSED THE NEED FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE TO DELIVER AN EFFICIENT SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC INSPITE OF THE EXPANSIONS UNDER THE NEW PROGRAMMES.
+ I HOPE THAT WITHIN FOUR MONTHS A MANAGEMENT REVIEW TEAM NOW AT WORK IN MY DEPARTMENT WILL COME UP WITH ACCEPTABLE PROPOSALS FOR IMPROVING OUR EFFICIENCY WHICH IS ESSENTIAL IF WE ARE TO FULFILL THE TASKS BEFORE US,+ HE SAID.
TURNING TO THE GREEN PAPER ON SOCIAL SECURITY, MR. LEE REVEALED THAT IT WOULD BE PROPOSED TO IMPLEMENT THE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 1978. THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE:
* FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN RECEIVING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE FOR MORE THAN 18 MONTHS WILL RECEIVE A SUPPLEMENT TO THE IR MONTHLY ALLOWANCE OF $200 AND SINGLE PERSONS, $100-
* PERSONS OVER 60 RECEIVING ASSISTANCE WHO DO NOT ALSO
RECEIVE A DISABILITY OR OLD AGE ALLOWANCE WILL RECEIVE A MONTHLY SUPPLEMENT OF $100 TO HELP WITH THE EXPENSE OF OLD AGE- AND
* THOSE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT HAVE TO REGISTER FOR WORK WITH
THE LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE AS A CONDITION OF RECEIVING ASSISTANCE WILL BE ABLE TO KEEP, AS AN INCENTIVE, HALF THE IR EARNINGS UP TO A MAXIMUM OF $100 IN ALL.
MR. LEE FURTHER REVEALED THAT IT WOULD ALSO BE PROPOSED THAT AT THE SAME TIME THE NON-MEANS TESTED DISABILITY AND OLD AGE ALLOWANCES SHOULD BECOME PAYABLE TO THOSE IN RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS AND THE SOCIAL SECURITY APPEAL BOARDS SHOULD
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