THURSDAY, MARCH 22, 1979
THE POLICY WAS ADOPTED EARLY LAST YEAR ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE WORKING GROUP ON NEW TERRITORIES URBAN LAND ACQUISITION HEADED BY SIR YUET-KEUNG KAN.
MR. ROOME SAID THE NEW RATES WOULD BE EFFECTIVE UP TO SEPTEMBER 30 THIS YEAR, WHEN A FURTHER REVIEW WILL BE CARRIED OUT.
HE POINTED OUT THAT UNDER THE REVISED GOVERNMENT LAND RESUMPTION POLICY IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, OWNERS OF RESUMED LAND OUTSIDE THE NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT AREAS WOULD BE COMPENSATED AT A PROPORTIONATE PERCENTAGE OF THE NEW FULL RATES DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE LAND RESUMED, AND MORE PARTICULARLY AS DEFINED ON A ZONAL PLAN AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION BY THE PUBLIC AT EACH OF THE DISTRICT OFFICES.
S.W.D. TO BECOME FULLY REGIONALISED IN APRIL
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THE OPERATIONS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL ENTER A NEW ERA NEXT MONTH AS PREPARATIONS ARE NOW IN TOP GEAR TO FULLY REGIONALISE ITS SERVICES TO BETTER SERVE THE COMMUNITY.
THIS WAS DISCLOSED TODAY (THURSDAY) BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF TSUEN WAN.
MR. LEE SAID THAT WITH FULL REGIONALISATION IN APRIL, THE DEPARTMENT WOULD BE ABLE TO MORE EFFECTIVELY DELIVER AND BETTER CO-ORDINATE ITS WELFARE SERVICES ON A REGIONAL BASIS.
HE SAID THE NEW SET-UP WOULD SEE THE DEPARTMENT'S DAY-TO-DAY WELFARE ACTIVITIES DECENTRALISED INTO FOUR REGIONS AND 11 DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE A MORE RATIONAL AND CO-ORDINATED SERVICE AT A LOCAL LEVEL.
HOWEVER, HE SAID, THE DEPARTMENTAL HEADQUARTERS WILL RETAIN THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEW SERVICES, ADMINISTRATION OF SUBVENTIONS AND TRAINING.
IN CHARGE OF EACH OF THE FOUR REGIONS -- HONG KONG ISLAND EAST KOWLOON, WEST KOWLOON AND THE NEW TERRITORIES WILL BE A REGIONAL OFFICER ACTING AS THE DEPARTMENT'S OVERALL ADMINISTRATOR IN SOCIAL WELFARE MATTERS, HE SAID.
MR. LEE SAID EACH REGIONAL OFFICER WOULD CO-ORDINATE ALL WELFARE SERVICES IN HIS REGION TO SERVE THE PARTICULAR NEEDS OF THE LOCAL COMMUNITY, IMPLEMENT DEPARTMENTAL POLICIES, LIAISE WITH LOCAL VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND TO REFLECT CHANGING NEEDS IN THE AREA.
/HE SAID