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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978
* THE SYSTEM HAS TO BE EQUITABLE BUT SIMPLE, ECONOMICAL AND FLEX-
ELE IN THE LIGHT OF THE POPULATION TREND AND THE IMMIGRATION, .: » INFLOW, AND
* THE SYSTEM HAS TO BE RELATED TO OUR ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES OR
OUR ECONOMIC GROWTH.
MRS. KWAN KO STU-WAH SAID OUR EFFORTS NOW SHOULD BE CONCENTRATED ON HELPING THOSE WHOSE NEEDS ARE GREATEST, THOSE IN VULNERABLE POSITIONS LIKE THE ELDERLY, THE DISABLED AND THE DESTITUTE. THE APPROACH SHOULD THEN SHIFT GRADUALLY IN EMPHASIS, FROM THE GOVERNMENT HELPING THOSE UNABLE TO HELP THEMSELVES TO GOVERNMENT HELPING PEOPLE TO HELP THEMSELVES. SHE SAID THE SHIFT MAY TAKE YEARS TO ACHIEVE BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE ADOPT A RIGHT APPROACH FROM THE BEGINNING.
....
ADMINISTRATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY
MRS. KWAN KO SIU-WAH SUGGESTED THAT AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE BE SET UP EITHER SEPARATELY OR AS A SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, TO ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY.
SHE FURTHER SUGGESTED THAT THE ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURES RESPONSIBLE FOR ADMINISTERING SOCIAL SECURITY AND OTHER SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES BE SEPARATED. SO AS TO BRING ABOUT GREATER EFFICIENCY AND A MORE RATIONAL DEPLOYMENT OF STAFF AND THEREFORE A BETTER SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC.
IN REPLY, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, THE HON, THOMAS LEE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONSIDER MOST CAREFULLY ALL THE COMMENTS MADE ON THE PROPOSALS CONTAINED IN THE GREEN PAPER ON SOCIAL SECURITY DEVELOPMENT IN REACHING POLICY DECISIONS OR IN SUBSEQUENT REVIEWS OF EXISTING POLICY.
MR. LEE SAID THE UNOFFICIALS' VIEWS CONSTITUTED A MOST USEFUL ADDITION TO THE NUMEROUS COMMENTS WHICH HAD BEEN MADE BOTH IN WRITING AND VERBALLY, AND THAT SOME OF THESE COMMENTS WERE ALREADY BEING REACTED TO IN THE GOVERNMENT'S DELIBERATIONS.
J
FOR EXAMPLE, HE SAID, THE CALL FOR A NON-MEANS TESTED ALLOWANCE FOR THE DEAF AND THE POSSIBLE ADMINISTRATIVE
COMPLICATIONS OF THE PROPOSED CHRONIC SICKNESS ALLOWANCE HAS LED TO THE SETTING UP OF A WORKING GROUP OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO RECOMMEND MODIFICATIONS TO THE GREEN PAPER'S PROPOSALS.
+ AM INVITING DR. FANG AND A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES TO TAKE PART IN THESE DISCUSSIONS, + HE ADDED.
AS REGARDS THE PROPOSAL BY MR. CHEONG-LEEN TO SUBSTITUTE THE WORD 'DEATH' BY 'SURVIVOR' IN THE PROPOSED SICKNESS
INJURY AND DEATH BENEFIT SCHEME, MR. LEE SAID HE WOULD LIKE TC REACT TO IT FAVOURABLY.
*I+/
NOTAIRLY