THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1985
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+THE MERIT OF THE SYSTEM LIES IN ENSURING VOLUNTARY AGENCIES' ACCOUNTABILITY AND GOVERNMENT'S FINANCIAL COMMITMENT SO MUCH NEEDED FOR LONG TERM PLANNING, AS WELL AS ACHIEVING THE TRUE SPIRIT OF PARTNERSHIP. + MR HUI SAID.
IN CONNECTION WITH SUBVENTION SYSTEM REFORMS, MR HUI SAID THE APPOINTMENT OF MEMBERS TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD LONG BEEN A BONE OF CONTENTION.
+WHILE THE COMMITTEE HAS NO AUTHORITY OVER RESOURCE ALLOCATION, THE APPOINTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS ON PERSONAL BASIS DOES NOT FALL IN LINE WITH THE PRINCIPLES OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT.
+ IT IS BELIEVED THAT NOMINATED MEMBERS FROM THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR REPRESENTING EXPERTISE OF VARIOUS TYPES OF SERVICES COULD BETTER REFLECT SERVICE NEEDS AND FACILITATE CONSULTATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, HE SAID.
MR HUI NOTED THAT THE PAST DECADES HAD WITNESSED MAJOR STEPS TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT TO GIVE HONG KONG PEOPLE HIGHER LIVING STANDARDS AND BETTER ACCESS TO HUMAN RIGHTS.
+HOWEVER, HONG KONG CAN AFFORD TO DO MORE FOR ITS PEOPLE PARTICULARLY AT THIS TIME WHEN THE VEIL OF UNCERTAINTY HANGING OVER OUR FUTURE HAS BEEN LIFTED.
+AS HONG KONG STEERS STEADILY INTO THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD BEFORE 1997, IT IS TIME FOR US TO CHART MORE BALANCED ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PLANS, HE SAID.
YOUTH SERVICE PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION STRESSED
*****
THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD STRENGTHEN THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF YOUTH SERVICES, THE HON ROSANNA TAM SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE POLICY DEBATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS, MRS TAM SAID YOUNG PEOPLE WERE AN IMPORTANT ASSET TO HONG KONG AS WELL AS A STRONG SOCIAL FORCE.
+ IF THE GOVERNMENT COULD FORMULATE A LONG-TERM POLICY FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND PROVIDE A GOOD ENVIRONMENT FOR THEM TO GROW UP, I BELIEVE THEY WILL MAKE VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO HONG KONG'S POLITICS, SOCIETY AND ECONOMY, SHE SAID.
MRS TAM SAID SHE WAS PLEASED WITH THE FACT THAT MANY YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY WERE DUTIFUL AND HELPFUL IN PROMOTING ECONOMIC PROSPERITY, WHILE SOME WERE ALSO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATING IN VARIOUS SOCIAL SERVICES.
J
/SHE SAID