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G
THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1986
+1 UNDERSTAND THAT THE SO-CALLED CATEGORY I SERVICES ARE THOSE WHICH BELONG TO THE BASIC NEEDS TYPE WHILE OTHERS ARE GROUPED UNDER CATEGORY 11.
+DESPITE THIS, THE SCOPE OF INDIVIDUAL SERVICES MAY BE VASTLY DIFFERENT ACCORDING TO THE NATURE OF THE SERVICE.
+CERTAIN SERVICES MAY HAVE THEIR OWN MERITS BUT SINCE THEIR USEFULNESS HAS NOT YET BEEN CONFIRMED, THEY MAY BE GIVEN A COMPARATIVELY LOW PRIORITY IN RESPECT OF FUNDING, HE SAID.
THERFORE, HE CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH A BETTER OPERATIONAL STRUCTURE AND TO UTILISE SURPLUSES TO DEVELOP NEW SERVICES AS WELL AS TO ENHANCE CATEGORY 11 SERVICES.
REFERRING TO SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, MR LIU SAID HE WAS PLEASED THAT 750 ADDITIONAL PLACES WOULD BE PROVIDED IN ELDERLY HOSTELS/HOMES.
HOWEVER, HE REGRETTED THAT THE NUMBER OF PLACES IN CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES WOULD REMAIN AT 1 376.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE NUMBER OF PLACES IN HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME FLATS FOR ELDERLY PERSONS HAD STAYED AT 599 SINCE 1984-85.
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MR LIU HOPED THAT THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE WOULD. IN THE CURRENT REVIEW OF THE ACCOMMODATION POLICY RELATING TO SOCIAL WELFARE AND COVERING ACCOMMODATION FOR THE ELDERLY, CONSIDER THE ABOVE POINTS AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
HE ALSO HOPED THAT THE AUTHORITIES WOULD FURTHER REVIEW THE DEMAND FOR SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY AND THAT CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN AS TO WHETHER THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SHOULD SET UP MORE SOCIAL CENTRES OR MAKE BETTER ARRANGEMENTS FOR THESE CENTRES TO BE RUN BY SUBVENTED INSTITUTIONS.
MR LIU REITERATED HIS BELIEF THAT PRIORITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO EDUCATION AND SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES IN THE BUDGET ESTIMATES AS THESE SERVICES WERE IMPORTANT TO COMMUNITY WELFARE AS A WHOLE.
HE SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD DELEGATE FULL FLEXIBILITY AND DECISION-MAKING POWER TO THE EXECUTIVE AUTHORITIES PROVIDED THAT THIS WAS IN LINE WITH CURRENT POLICIES, SO THAT MORE AND BETTER SERVICES COULD BE PROVIDED TO MEET SOCIAL NEEDS.
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HE FURTHER SUGGESTED THAT ADMINISTRATION-RELATED UNITS SHOULD BE ENTRUSTED WITH THE RIGHT TO USE FUNDS SO THAT THEY MAY PROVIDE QUICK AND EFFICIENT SERVICES.
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