TUESDAY, JULY 3, 1979
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OTHER MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS, HE SAID, INCLUDED THE LAUNCHING OF FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION, THE PHASED ENFORCEMENT OF THE CHILD CARE CENTRES ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS AND THE SETTING UP OF A CHILD CARE CENTRES ADVISORY INSPECTORATE WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
IN 1977-78, MR. LEE SAID THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME WAS EXTENDED TO COVER THE UNEMPLOYED ABLE-BODIED ADULTS AGED 15 TO 55 INCAPABLE OF SUPPORTING THEMSELVES THROUGH NO FAULT OF THEIR OWN.
HE SAID THE YEAR ALSO SAW THE PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER ON REHABILITATION SERVICES AND THE THREE GREEN PAPERS ON SOCIAL SECURITY DEVELOPMENT, SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY AND PERSONAL SOCIAL WORK AMONG YOUTH.
IN 1978-79, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT IMPLEMENTED SEVERAL PROPOSALS IN THE SOCIAL SECURITY GREEN PAPER, WHICH INCLUDED A LONG-TERM SUPPLEMENT, AN OLD AGE SUPPLEMENT AND A DISREGARDED INCOME SYSTEM FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANT RECIPIENTS- THE EXTENSION OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE TO COVER PEOPLE UNDER INSTITUTIONAL CARE- THE SETTING UP OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY APPEAL BOARD- AND THE LOWERING FROM 75 TO 70 THE QUALIFYING AGE FOR THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE.
IN SEPTEMBER 1977, THE INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL WORK TRAINING BECAME THE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK WITHIN THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC, HE SAID.
HE SAID PREPARATIONS WERE ALSO UNDERWAY FOR REORGANISING THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT ON A REGIONAL BASIS AS FROM APRIL 1979 TO ACHIEVE GREATER ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY AND BETTER COORDINATION OF WELFARE SERVICES.
AND TWO MONTHS AGO, HE ADDED, THE GOVERNMENT INTRODUCED THE +NO FAULT TRAFFIC ACCIDENT VICTIMS ASSISTANCE SCHEME PROVIDING QUICK CASH RELIEF FOR ACCIDENT VICTIMS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS.
IN ADDITION, A COMPREHENSIVE WHITE PAPER ENTITLED +SOCIAL WELFARE INTO THE 1980'S+ WAS PUBLISHED SETTING OUT THE BASIS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT IN SOCIAL SECURITY AND DIRECT WELFARE SERVICES, HE SAID.
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