FRIDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1984
+THE SEVEN-YEAR RESIDENCE RULE WILL BE THE BEST CONCESSION TO SQUATTERS, MANY OF WHOM, ACCORDING TO RECORDS, HAVE RELATIVELY SHORT LENGTH OF RESIDENCE IN HONG KONG.
+FIGURES SHOWED THAT OF THE 52 684 PEOPLE CLEARED AND REHOUSED LAST YEAR. MORE THAN ONE-THIRD OF THEM WERE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ESTATE FLATS FOR WHICH TEN YEARS LOCAL RESIDENCE IS REQUIRED.+
HE ADVISED ELIGIBLE SQUATTERS TO MAKE GOOD USE OF THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE THEIR LIVING CONDITIONS.
+FOLLOWING THE RELAXATION OF PUBLIC HOUSING ALLOCATION POLICIES WHICH OFFER MANY MORE CATEGORIES OF APPLICANTS THE GREEN FORM STATUS FOR HOS APPLICATIONS, AND WITH LOCAL ECONOMY FAST RECOVERING, IT IS EXPECTED THAT DEMAND FOR HOS FLATS WILL BE KEENER
THAN EVER, DR HUANG SAID.
EMERGENCY RELIEF WORK OUTLINED
*****
THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART IN EMERGENCY RELIEF WORK DURING NATURAL DISASTERS AND OTHER SERIOUS INCIDENTS, THE DEPARTMENT'S REGIONAL OFFICER (WEST KOWLOON), MR ALEXANDER FUNG, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
SPEAKING AT A LUNCH MEETING OF THE BRAEMAR HILL LIONS CLUB, HE SAID THAT EMERGENCY RELIEF, WHICH IS PART OF HONG KONG'S SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM, WAS DESIGNED TO HELP VICTIMS OF TYPHOONS, RAINSTORMS, FIRES, LANDSLIDES AND HOUSE COLLAPSES.
+WHEN A REPORT OF SUCH AN INCIDENT IS RECEIVED, ONE OF OUR DUTY TEAMS, WHICH ARE OPERATED ON A REGIONAL BASIS, WILL QUICKLY SWING INTO ACTION,+ HE SAID.
TEAM MEMBERS WOULD REGISTER THE VICTIMS AND ARRANGE WITH THE DEPARTMENT'S KOWLOON KITCHEN FOR THE SUPPLY OF COOKED MEALS, BLANKETS, MILK POWDER AND OTHER DAILY NECESSITIES.
+ IF NECESSARY, WE WILL OPEN OUR COMMUNITY CENTRES AS TEMPORARY SHELTERS,+ MR FUNG SAID.
CASH ASSISTANCE AND COMPASSIONATE REHOUSING MIGHT ALSO BE ARRANGED FOR THOSE WITH A GENUINE NEED.
+TO ENSURE THAT THE VICTIMS RECEIVE PROPER CARE, STAFF OF OUR FAMILY SERVICES CENTRE AND SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD UNIT IN THE DISTRICT WILL HELP THOSE IN NEED OF OTHER WELFARE SERVICES.+
THE DEPARTMENT'S EMERGENCY
IN THE 1983-84 FINANCIAL
BETWEEN APRIL AND AUGUST THIS YEAR DUTY TEAMS WERE CALLED OUT ON 62 OCCASIONS. YEAR, THE TEAMS WERE CALLED OUT 186 TIMES,
REFERRING TO THE KOWLOON KITCHEN, MR FUNG SAID ITS WORKLOAD
HAD BEEN INCREASING IN RECENT YEARS.
/+WITH THE
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