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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1983
POOR CAN GET HELP IN COLD WEATHER
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THE ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE TO THE POOR DURING COLD WEATHER WAS DETAILED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES,
HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON SELINA CHOW, WHO WISHED TO KNOW WHAT SERVICE OR ASSISTANCE THE GOVERNMENT WOULD OFFER SHOULD SEVERE COLD SET IN.
MR BARNES SAID THAT HE HAD DESCRIBED AT THE LAST LEGCO MEETING THE HELP AVAILABLE TO STREET SLEEPERS IN COLD WEATHER.
SUCH ASSISTANCE IN THE FORM OF SHELTER, BLANKETS, HOT DRINKS AND SO ON IS ALSO AVAILABLE TO ANYONE ELSE WITH LITTLE OR NO RESOURCES WHO MIGHT BE WITHOUT CLOTHING OR SHELTER IN VERY COLD WEATHER.
+PUBLIC ASSISTANCE WOULD ALSO NORMALLY BE AVAILABLE TO SUCH PERSONS ALL THE YEAR ROUND, AND MORE IMMEDIATE HELP CAN BE PROVIDED BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FROM CHARITABLE TRUST FUNDS.
+WHERE NECESSARY AN ISSUE OF WARM CLOTHING CAN BE ARRANGED DIRECTLY BY THE DEPARTMENT, HE SAID.
PUBLIC HOUSING ENQUIRY SERVICES ADEQUATE
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THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON DONALD LIAO, SAID TODAY ENQUIRY SERVICES ON PUBLIC HOUSING FOR TENANTS AND PROSPECTIVE TENANTS WERE ADEQUATE.
+DURING THE PAST 12 MONTHS, WE HAVE RECEIVED MORE THAN A MILLION ENQUIRIES ABOUT PUBLIC HOUSING, OF WHICH ABOUT ONE-THIRD WAS THROUGH THE PUBLIC ENQUIRY COUNTERS AND TWO-THIRDS THROUGH THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT'S HEADQUARTERS AND ESTATE OFFICES, HE SAID.
REPLYING TO THE HON W.C.L. BROWN, MR LIAO SAID THE MANAGEMENT OFFICES IN THE HOUSING ESTATES MAINTAINED CLOSE CONTACT WITH TENANTS TOTALLING 2.3 MILLION OR 44 PER CENT OF HONG KONG'S POPULATION, AND HANDLED ALL ENQUIRIES CONCERNING INDIVIDUAL TENANCY PROBLEMS.
+A LARGE NUMBER OF SUCH ENQUIRIES ARE RAISED WITH THE MANAGEMENT STAFF DURING THEIR MONTHLY DOOR-TO-DOOR RENT COLLECTION ROUNDS.
+WHEN TENANTS MOVE INTO NEW ESTATES, THEY ARE BRIEFED ON THE FACILITIES AND SERVICES AVAILABLE IN THE AREA.
/+IN ADDITION,