IN
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SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1978
+ IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS THE TOTAL GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES HAS INCREASED BY 160 PER CENT FROM JUST OVER $38 MILLION A YEAR TO $110 MILLION A YEAR. OTHER ANNUAL EXPENDITURE (CAPITAL AND RECURRENT) HAS INCREASED BY 94 PER CENT FROM $224 MILLION TO $435 MILLION. WE EXPECT THIS RATE OF EXPANSION TO CONTINUE OR EVEN ACCELERATE AS THE NEW PROGRAMMES ARE IMPLEMENTED. THEIR DETAILS WILL BE SET OUT IN A COMPREHENSIVE WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY NOW BEING DRAFTED.
+ IT IS ONLY TOO CLEAR THAT WITH THE TASKS WE HAVE SET OURSELVES, WE NEED A VIGOROUS AND PROGRESSIVE VOLUNTARY SECTOR WORKING SIDE BY SIDE WITH THE GOVERNMENT, AND I KNOW THAT WE CAN RELY ON YOU TO DO YOUR BEST IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE OUR COMMON GOAL. THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR AND THE GOVERNMENT, DEVELOPED OVER THE YEARS, IS A SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY, AND I AM SURE IT WILL BE MAINTAINED AND DEVELOPED TO FACE THE RAPIDLY CHANGING NEEDS OF HONG KONG,
+THIS EXHIBITION IS AIMED AT THE PROMOTION OF A BETTER PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE ROLE OF THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES IN HONG KONG. THIS IS A VERY WORTHWHILE OBJECT AND I AM VERY GLAD TO BE HERE TODAY TO OPEN THE EXHIBITION AND TO WISH THE COUNCIL EVERY SUCCESS IN ITS FUTURE WORK.+
SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE SCHEME GROWING ****
THE GOVERNMENT IS SPENDING MORE THAN $3 MILLION A YEAR TO SUBSIDISE THE INCREASINGLY POPULAR SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE SCHEME WHICH HAS BEEN INTRODUCED TO COMPLEMENT THE EXTENSIVE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THE SCHEME IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ECONOMICAL MEDICAL
TREATMENT FOR SCHOOL CHILDREN.
IT IS A VOLUNTARY SCHEME, AND PARTICIPATING DOCTORS ARE PRIVATE MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS WITH CLINIC OFFICES NEAR THE SCHOOLS. UNDER THE SCHEME, EACH ENROLLED PUPIL HAS TO PAY ONLY $5 A YEAR WHILE THE GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTES $30 FOR EACH PARTICIPATING PUPIL.
THE SECRETARY