22
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1981
ADDED.
+THIS IS EQUIVALENT TO FOUR BEDS PER 1 000 POPULATION, HE
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID SEVERAL MAJOR PROJECTS IN SUBVENTED HOSPITALS WOULD BE COMPLETED IN 1981-82. THESE INCLUDED THE NEW PATHOLOGY WING AT THE KWONG WAH HOSPITAL, A CARDIAC-THORACIC CENTRE AT THE GRANTHAM HOSPITAL AND AN EXTENSION TO THE WONG TAI SIN INFIRMARY. SIX NEW CLINICS AND POLYCLINICS WERE ALSO DUE FOR COMPLETION IN THE FORTHCOMING FINANCIAL YEAR.
WELFARE ALLOWANCES TO BE RAISED ****
THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY HAS EARMARKED $1 126.9 MILLION FOR SOCIAL WELFARE IN HIS 1981-82 DRAFT ESTIMATES, COMPARED WITH THE REVISED ESTIMATES OF $830.5 MILLION FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.
THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE ALSO PROPOSED AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) RAISING THE BASIC RATES OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES TO IMPROVE, IN REAL TERMS, THE STANDARD OF LIVING OF PEOPLE RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY.
THE DRAFT ESTIMATES, HE SAID, INCLUDED ADDITIONAL PROVISION OF $145 MILLION, COMPRISING $54.5 MILLION FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE $86.5 MILLION FOR SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCES AND $4 MILLION FOR RENTAL ALLOWANCES, SPECIFICALLY TO INCREASE BASIC RATES.
SIR PHILIP SAID A LARGE PORTION OF RECURRENT EXPENDITURE WOULD CONTINUE TO BE CHANNELLED THROUGH SOCIAL WELFARE SUBVENTIONS TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES $192 MILLION (INCLUDING $26 MILLION FOR REHABILITATION SERVICES) FOR THIS PURPOSE, AN ÎNCREASE OF 32 PER CENT OVER 1980-81.
THE BULK WOULD BE DISBURSED, ON THE ADVICE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, IN DISCRETIONARY GRANTS TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
OF $78 MILLION FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS IN 1981-82, $41 MILLION WOULD BE PROVIDED UNDER THE PUBLIC WORKS NON-RECURRENT HEADS AND $37 MILLION WOULD BE PROVIDED FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND. COMPARED WITH $15 AND $31 MILLION IN THE REVISED 1980-81 ESTIMATES.
/23
H