WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1982
18
260 000 GET WELFARE CASH
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LAST YEAR ABOUT 260 000 PEOPLE RECEIVED CASH BENEF ITS UNDER THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME AND THE LEVEL OF PAYMENT OF THESE BENEFITS HAS BEEN PROGRESSIVELY REVISED UPWARDS, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE 1979 WHITE PAPER - SOCIAL WELFARE INTO THE 1980'S SET OUT THE AIMS FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND PROVIDED THAT HONG KONG'S SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM SHOULD ENSURE THAT THOSE LEAST ABLE TO HELP THEMSELVES SHOULD BE LOOKED AFTER, SIR EDWARD NOTED.
THE GOVERNMENT, HE ADDED, IS ALSO CONSCIOUS OF AND UNDERSTANDS THE CONCERN EXPRESSED ABOUT THE DESIRABILITY OF FURTHER IMPROVING THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM.
+THE ISSUES ARE LARGE ONES, AND THE FINANCIAL RESOURCES WHICH WOULD BE REQUIRED TO SUPPORT THE MORE AMBITIOUS SCHEMES ARE HUGE.
+WE MUST BEWARE OF ACCEPTING RECURRENT COMMITMENTS ON PUBLIC SECTOR FUNDS WHICH WE COULD NOT SUSTAIN, HE STATED.
HE ADDED THAT NEVERTHELESS, THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD STUDY THE ISSUES WITH GREAT CARE AND WOULD CONTINUE TO DO WHAT IT COULD TO AMEL FORATE THE LOT OF THOSE IN NEED.
SIR EDWARD ALSO SPOKE ON THE NEW SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING SUBVENTIONS TO VOLUNTARY SOCIAL WELFARE ORGANISATIONS ANNOUNCED LAST YEAR.
THE SYSTEM WAS FORMULATED LARGELY ON THE BASIS OF PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE REPORT PREPARED BY THE WORKING PARTY ON PROVISION OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES AND SUBVENTION ADMINISTRATION AS WELL AS ON THE ADVICE OF VARIOUS ADVISORY COMMITTEES.
+THE CHANGES PROPOSED HAVE ATTRACTED SOME CONCERN FROM THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR AND IT MUST BE ACCEPTED THAT THE NEW SYSTEM WILL NEED SOME FINE TUNING BEFORE IT BECOMES TRULY EFFECTIVE,+ HE SAID.
DISCUSSING THE SHORTAGE OF TRAINED SOCIAL WELFARE WORKERS,
HE SAID, THE TWO UNIVERSITIES HAD BEEN INVITED TO EXPAND THEIR SOCIAL WORK INTAKE IN THE NEXT TRIENNIUM STARTING IN 1984-85.
+ THE POLYTECHNIC WILL ALSO COMMENCE ITS SOCIAL WORK DEGREE
COURSE FROM 1983-84,+ HE SAID.
THE GOVERNMENT HE SAID, INTENDS TO MAINTAIN STEADY PROGRESS+ IN THE PROVISION OF MEDICAL AND SOCIAL REHABILITATION SERVICES AND OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING FOR THE DISABLED.
+BY 1986, EACH REGIONAL HOSPITAL WILL HAVE ATTACHED TO IT ONE MEDICAL REHABILITATION CENTRE PROVIDING SPECIALIST IN-PATIENT TREATMENT.
/+BY THE
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