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THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1986
MR HUI SAID THE CLAW-BACK OF INTEREST FROM UNUSED SUBVENTION NOT ONLY STRIPPED OFF THE CUSHIONING EFFECT, CREATED A POSSIBLE CASH FLOW PROBLEMS FOR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, BUT ALSO VIOLATED THE PRINCIPLE OF THE NEW SUBVENTION SYSTEM FOR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES TO EXERCISE FLEXIBILITY AND TO USE THEIR INCOME MORE PRODUCTIVELY.
+LASTLY, SINCE PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS FOR CATEGORY II SERVICES ARE NOT FUL.Y SUBVENTED, AGENCIES PROVIDING SUCH SERVICES ARE SUBJECT TO "ERIODIC HARASSMENT OF HAVING TO DESPERATELY COPE WITH SALARY ADJUSTMENTS FOR THEIR STAFF, HE SAID.
LOOKING AT SOME POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS, MR HUI SAID HE BELIEVED THAT A GOVE NMENT COMMITMENT WAS FUNDAMENTAL TO SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
+1 BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD TAKE A FIRM MOVE TO SPELL OUT IN DETAIL ITS FIVE YEAR FORECASTS FOR SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES SUPPORTED BY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES.
IT IS ALSO HIGH TIME FOR GOVERNMENT'S EQUIVOCAL STAND ON SOCIAL WELFARE POLICIES TO BE REPLACED BY DEFINITE ENDORSEMENT OF MUCH-NEEDED SERVICE PROJECTS AWAITING PUBLIC FUNDINGS, HE SAID,
MR HUI SUGGESTED THAT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SHOULD WORK OUT BASIC COSTS FOR VARIOUS TYPES OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES, WITH THERE BEING CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF THE LATTER IN SETTING PRIORITIES, FORMULATING POLICIES AND MOBILISING RESOURCES.
IN ARTICULAR, HE SAID, THE INTELLIGENT USE OF AN IDENTIFIED SURPLUS TOTALLING $31.4 MILLION IN VOLUNTARY AGENCY RESERVE ACCOUNTS OUGHT TO BE ACTIVELY PURSUED SO THAT THE SERIOUS SHORTAGE OF FUNDS FOR CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION AND SALARY ADJUSTMENT WOULD BE EASED.
MR HUI ALSO SAID HE BELIEVED THAT SOCIAL WELFARE DISBURSEMENTS FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND HAD DROPPED FROM 5.75 PER CENT OF TOTAL PROCEEDS IN 1983 TO 1.5 PER CENT IN 1985, AND URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE STEPS TO SEE THAT THIS SITUATION WAS RECTIFIED,
HE ALSO ASKED WHETHER IT WAS POSSIBLE THAT 50 PER CENT OF THE FUND ALLOCATION FOR SOCIAL WELFARE BE USE FOR IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF SERVICE IN GOVERNMENT APPROVED PROJECTS FOR WHICH NO PROVISION HAD BEEN MADE IN SOCIAL WELFARE SUBVENTIONS IN THE PAST FEW YEARS.
FURTHERMORE, HE SAID THE TIME REQUIRED FOR PROCESSING APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM THE FUND SHOULD BE REDUCED, PROCEDURES SHOULD BE STREAMLINED AND MORE MANPOWER DEPLOYED TU HANDLE APPLICATIONS SO THAT SUBVENTION WOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE MORE SPEEDILY.
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