WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1985
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COMMUNITY CENTRE STAFF TO BE STRENGTHENED
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THE GOVERNMENT PLANS TO HIRE MORE PEOPLE TO ENSURE THE SMOOTH RUNNING OF COMMUNITY CENTRES, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DONALD LIAO, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON LEE YU-TAI ON THE STAFF SITUATION AT THESE CENTRES, MR LIAO SAID THERE HAS BEEN NO REDUCTION OF GOVERNMENT STAFF ASSIGNED TO WORK IN COMMUNITY CENTRES, ESTATE COMMUNITY CENTRES AND COMMUNITY HALLS, SINCE THE IR MANAGEMENT WAS TRANSFERRED FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TO THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION LAST JUNE.
+A SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION OF $1.5 MILLION HAS BEEN SOUGHT TO EMPLOY TEMPORARY COMMUNITY ORGANISERS IN 1985-86 TO ASSIST IN THE MANNING OF THESE FACILITIES, + HE SAID.
+ IT IS ALSO INTENDED THAT THE MANN ING SCALE BE INCREASED IN ORDER TO MAXIMISE UTILISATION OF COMMUNITY CENTRES, HE ADDED.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL ORGANISATIONS TO MAKE FULL USE OF COMMUNITY CENTRE FACILITIES.
MR LIAO POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE NOW 415 STAFF (230 FROM SWD AND 185 FROM CNTA) WORKING IN THESE CENTRES, COMPARED WITH 394 SWD STAFF BEFORE THE TRANSFER.
+THE TRANSFER OF THE MANAGEMENT OF COMMUNITY CENTRES WAS TO RATIONAL ISE THE RESOURCE ALLOCATION OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND CNTA SO THAT THE FORMER CAN CONCENTRATE ITS MANPOWER RESOURCES IN SOCIAL WORK SERVICES WHILE THE LATTER ASSUMES THE GENERAL ROLE OF COMMUNITY BUILDING, HE SAID.
THIS ENTAILED THE REDEPLOYMENT OF STAFF RESOURCES INCLUDING THE WITHDRAWAL OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IN SOME CASES, MR LIAO SAID.
IT WAS A MATTER
+AS THERE WAS NO OVERALL REDUCTION OF STAFF, OF HOW THE CHANGING-OVER OF MANAGEMENT HAD AFFECTED THE USE OF THESE CENTRES.
+WITH THE TRANSFER, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE BETTER SERVICES TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AS A WHOLE,+ HE SAID.
MR LIAO NOTED THAT SOME GROUP ACTIVITIES PREVIOUSLY LED BY PROFESSIONAL STAFF MAY HAVE TO BE REPLACED BY OTHER ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY LOCAL BODIES.
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