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THURSDAY, MARCH 27, 1986
MRS TAM ALSO EXPRESSED CONCERN OVER THE PRESENT SOCIAL WELFARE SUBVENTION SYSTEM WHICH HAD GIVEN RISE TO MANY PROBLEMS IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS.
THE MOST SERIOUS ONE WAS THAT THE ACTUAL EXPENDITURE OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES FELL BELOW GOVERNMENT'S ORIGINAL ESTIMATION.
+THIS SITUATION HAS ARISEN BECAUSE THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN TOO OPTIMISTIC IN FORECASTING THE PROGRESS OF NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
+ONLY WHEN CONSTRUCTION HAS STARTED DOES IT REALISE THAT THE PROJECT FALLS FAR BEHIND SCHEDULE.
+OWING TO DELAYS, SURPLUSES IN EXPENDITURE RESULTED, SHE SAID. +ON THE OTHER HAND, THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES LACK STAFF TO PLAN FOR NEW PROJECTS. THIS IS ANOTHER IMPORTANT FACTOR FOR SLOW PROGRESS IN CONSTRUCTION AND SURPLUSES IN EXPENDITURES, SHE SAID.
ANOTHER PROBLEM ARISING FROM THE APPLICATION OF THE NEW SUBVENTION SYSTEM WAS THAT LARGE AMOUNT OF SURPLUSES ALSO ACCRUED IN VOLUNTARY AGENCIES' ACCOUNTS.
SHE REVEALED THAT FROM 1982-83 TO THE PRESENT TIME, THE SURPLUSES ACCUMULATED TOTALLED $31 MILLION.
SHE EXPLAINED THAT THIS SURPLUS WAS DUE TO THE GOVERNMENT'S EMPLOYMENT OF THE MID-POINT SALARY VALUE TO ESTIMATE PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS.
MRS TAM URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO SQUARELY FACE THESE PROBLEMS AND DEAL WITH THEM.
+FIRSTLY. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD SUPERVISE CLOSELY THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW PROJECTS, INCLUDING THOSE JOINTLY BUILT BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT SO THAT CONSTRUCTION WORK WILL BE COMPLETED ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE.
+SECONDLY, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PROMPTLY DEVISE A PROPER METHOD TO CLAW BACK THE ACCUMULATED SURPLUSES IN VOLUNTARY AGENCIES' ACCOUNT.
+THIRDLY, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO THINK OF FEASIBLE MEASURES TO SYSTEMATICALLY CLAW BACK SURPLUSES THAT WILL LIKELY BE ACCRUED IN VOLUNTARY AGENCIES' ACCOUNTS AND USE THEM TO CARRY OUT THE MUCH NEEDED SOCIAL WELAFRE SERVICES, SHE SAID.
MRS TAM