WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 1983
COMMENTING ON MR HU'S REFERENCE TO FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES FACED BY SOME AGENCIES OPERATING SOCIAL CENTRES AND MULTI-SERVICE CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY, MR CHAMBERS REITERATED THAT THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF ANY REAL FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES IN THIS AREA.
AFTER THE 1982/83 ALLOCATIONS, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT RECEIVED ONLY TWO APPEALS FROM THE 30 VOLUNTARY AGENCIES RUNNING SOME 70 SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY AND BOTH WERE SATISFACTOR ILY RESOLVED, HE SAID.
+NOR IS THERE ANY INDICATION THAT THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE VALUABLE SERVICES WILL BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED, SINCE THE PLANNED PROVISIONS FOR 1983/84 HAVE ALL BEEN TAKEN UP BY THE AGENCIES,+ HE SAID.
+ SHALL HOWEVER BE HAPPY TO CONSIDER AN APPEAL FROM ANY INDIVIDUAL AGENCY WHICH CAN SHOW THAT IT IS UNABLE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY WITH THE FUNDS ALLOCATED, HE ADDED.
REFERRING TO THE REV THE HON JOYCE BENNETT'S REMARKS ON SERVICES FOR YOUNG OFFENDERS, MR CHAMBERS EXPLAINED THAT AN EDUCATION ADVISER WAS SECONDED BY THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION TO STUDY SCHOOLING PROVIDED FOR INMATES IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S FIVE RESIDENTIAL TRAINING INSTITUTIONS, THE ADVISER WAS NOT DEALING ONLY WITH +ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS+, HE SAID.
+SPECIFICALLY HE IS REVIEWING THE EDUCATIONAL NEEDS OF THE INMATES, DESIGNING APPROPRIATE CURRICULUMS IN DIFFERENT HOMES TO MEET THESE NEEDS, INCLUDING ACADEMIC, PRACTICAL AND PRE-VOCATIONAL PROGRAMMES, ADVISING ON SPACE AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS, AND DRAWING UP A STAFFING ESTABLISHMENT FOR EACH HOME, HE EXPLAINED,
IN DOING THIS WORK, THE ADVISER CONSULTED OTHER SPECIALIST OFFICERS IN THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING THOSE IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION SECTION.
+1 AM NATURALLY ANXIOUS THAT ALL THE EXPERTISE AVAILABLE IS BROUGHT TO BEAR ON THIS IMPORTANT AREA OF OUR WORK AND I SHALL BE HAVING FURTHER DISCUSSIONS WITH MY COLLEAGUE, THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, WHEN THE EDUCATION ADVISER'S REPORT IS RECEIVED, HE SAID.
REFERRING TO DR HENRY HU'S SUGGESTION THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE MORE GENEROUS IN DEALING WITH THOSE UNABLE TO LOOK AFTER THEMSELVES BECAUSE OF OLD AGE OR DISABILITIES, MR CHAMBERS SAID, *WE ARE VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE CHANGING SOCIAL PATTERN IN HONG KONG, AND THE PLIGHT OF MANY OF THE OLD AND DISABLED MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY AS WELL AS THE PRESSURES ON THOSE FAMILIES WHO HAVE TO LOOK AFTER THEM.+
+THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO MOST NEED HELP AND THEY ARE THE PRIME TARGETS BOTH OF OUR SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES AND OF OUR DIRECT SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES.+
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