WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1986
13
WELFARE STAFF FACE NEW CHALLENGES *****
THE COMPLEXITY OF HUMAN PROBLEMS THROWN UP BY HONG KONG'S INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED AND COMPETITIVE SOCIETY OFFERS NEW CHALLENGES TO THE STAFF, BOTH VOLUNTARY AND OFFICIAL, WHO DEAL WITH THEM, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID IN THE LEGISTATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNEADAY).
+THEY DESERVE, AND MUST HAVE, OUR SUPPORT,+ HE SAID, IN NOTING THAT THE PAST YEAR HAD SEEN DEBATE, BOTH IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER AND OUTSIDE, ON THE MANAGEMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES.
+STEPS HAVE ALREADY BEEN TAKEN TO IMPLEMENT SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS MADE BY THE UMELCO WELFARE SERVICES PANEL IN ITS REPORT ON THE KWOK AH-NUI CASE. ADDITIONAL STAFF RESOURCES HAVE BEEN PROVIDED IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S FAMILY SERVICES CENTRES, AND FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS ARE PLANNED DURING THE COMING YEAR, SIR EDWARD SAID.
HE ALSO SAID THAT A REVIEW OF THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES ORDINANCE WAS UNDERWAY.
+DURING THE COMING YEAR, REVIEWS WILL BE COMPLETED OF THE SYSTEM OF SUBVENTING SERVICES PROVIDED BY NON-GOVERNMENT WELFARE AGENCIES AND OF RESIDENTIAL SREVICES FOR CHILDREN WHO CANNOT BE CARED FOR IN THEIR OWN HOMES, HE SAID.
THE VIEWS OF SUBVENTED WELFARE AGENCIES WOULD BE TAKEN FULLY INTO ACCOUNT.
SIR EDWARD POINTED OUT THAT A USEFUL STUDY HAD RECENTLY BEEN COMPLETED INTO THE SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK SERVICE, WHICH WAS NOW AVAILABLE TO NEARLY ALL SCHOOLS.
+THE STUDY HAS ENDORSED THE VALUE OF THE SERVICE TO PUPILS WHO FACE EMOTIONAL. SOCIAL AND LEARNING PROBLEMS AND HAS SUGGESTED WAYS OF IMPROVING CO-OPERATION BETWEEN CLASS TEACHERS, GUIDANCE TEACHERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS, HE ADDED.
/14