SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1980
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ANOTHER MAJOR GRANT, OF $9.1 MILLION, IS FOR THE TUNG WAH GROUP OF HOSPITALS TO BUILD THE FIRST STAGE OF A CARE AND ATTENTION HOME FOR THE AGED IN TAI PO.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY THE PROJECTS WERE IN LINE WITH THE GOVERNMENT POLICY SET OUT IN THE 1980 SOCIAL WELFARE WHITE PAPER ON THE PROVISION OF MORE RESIDENTIAL PLACES FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE.
HE SAID THE TWO HOMES PLANNED BY THE SAGE WOULD ACCOMMODATE A TOTAL OF 380 OLD PEOPLE IN NEED OF CARE AND ATTENTION.
THE DEPARTMENT WILL ALSO PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED SUBVENTION OF $3 MILLION EACH YEAR TO MEET RECURRENT COSTS, HE CONTINUED.
HE SAID THE TUNG WAH GROUP'S PROJECT WOULD BE DEVELOPED IN THREE STAGES AND, WHEN FULLY COMPLETED BY 1984-85, WOULD ACCOMMODATE 388 ELDERLY PEOPLE IN NEED OF CARE AND ATTENTION AND ANOTHER 200 REQUIRING MINIMAL CARE.
IN ADDITION, HE ADDED, AN ESTIMATED ANNUAL SUBVENTION OF $1.1 MILLION WILL BE PROVIDED TO MEET RECURRENT COSTS IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OPERATION.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT CAPITAL GRANTS FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND WERE CONSIDERED ON APPLICATION BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO FINANCE NEW PROJECTS OR TO IMPROVE PROVISIONS OF EXISTING SERVICES SUCH AS RENOVATION OR PURCHASE OF EQUIPMENT, AND GRANTS WERE APPROVED ON THE ADVICE OF THE SUBVENTION AND LOTTERIES FUND SUB-COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHICH IS REPRESENTED BY COMMUNITY LEADERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS.
HE SAID APPLICATIONS WERE PROCESSED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE DEPENDING ON VARIOUS FACTORS WHICH INCLUDED THE SUPPLY OF SUFFICIENT BASIC AND DETAILED INFORMATION, PROPER LAYOUT AND WORK PLANS, AND LAND GRANTS.
+THESE FACTORS ARE IMPORTANT IN MINIMISING UNNECESSARY RE-CHECKS AND SPEEDING UP PROCESSING, HE POINTED OUT.
HE ADDED THAT APPLICATION AND PROCESSING PROCEDURES WERE REVIEWED AND STREAMLINED WHERE NECESSARY.
IN CASES OF PROJECTS INVOLVING PREMISES IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, NEW ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN IN FORCE TO ENABLE APPLICANTS TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE PREMISES ARE SCHEDULED FOR OCCUPANCY.
THESE ARRANGEMENTS AIM AT TIMING THE OCCUPANCY OF PREMISES TO START STRUCTURAL WORKS WITH THE APPROVAL OF GRANTS, HE SAID.
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