WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1986
21
URGENT REVIEW OF SUBVENTION SYSTEM NEEDED
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THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD URGENTLY RETHINK AND REVIEW ITS PRESENT SUBVENTION POLICIES AND PLACE SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY AT THE HIGHEST PRIORITY, THE HON DAVID LI SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING AT THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR LI SAID VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WHICH DID NOT PRACTISE +CREATIVE ACCOUNTING+ WERE BEING UNFAIRLY PENALISED BY THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF SUBVENTION.
IN HIS OVER 16 YEARS OF VOLUNTARY SERVICE, MR LI SAID, HE HAD SEEN A GOOD DEAL OF CREATIVE ACCOUNTING+ AS PRACTISED BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.
IT IS NOT CREATIVITY BY CHOICE, BUT AS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE GOVERNMENT'S INFLEXIBLE SUBVENTION POLICIES, HE SAID.
THEREFORE, HE ADDED, HE WELCOMED THE RECENT CALL BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE THAT THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF THESE SUBVENTION POLICIES SHOULD BE REVIEWED.
MR LI SAID THE PRESENT SUBVENTION SYSTEM HAD CREATED A +NO-WIN+ SITUATION FOR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WHICH WERE CAUGHT
IN THE SUBVENTION CROSSFIRE BETWEEN THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THE COMMUNITY CHEST.
+ THE AGENCIES ARE THE VICTIMS OF A CONTINUOUS MORE OR LESS' BATTLE OVER SUBVENTIONS, A BATTLE THAT BENEFITS NO ONE, LEAST OF ALL THE ELDERLY, HE SAID.
HE QUESTIONED THE WISDOM OF A SUBVENTION SYSTEM WHEREBY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WERE ALLOWED NO ROOM TO GROW AND HAD NO CERTAINTY THAT SUBSIDIES WOULD BE GUARANTEED IN THE LONG TERM.
MR LI NOTED THAT UNDER THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S CLASSIFICATION, PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS FOR DAY CARE AND HOME HE LP SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY WERE ENTITLED TO A FULL SUBVENTION.
HOWEVER, THE SUBVENTION SUM WAS CALCULATED ACCORDING TO A MODEL SYSTÉM, WITH THE RESULT THAT THE AGENCIES USUALLY SUSTAINED A DEFICIT, HE SAID.
HE THEREFORE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO BE MORE REALISTIC IN COSTING THE MODEL SYSTEM, AND TO TAKE VARYING SALARY SCALES AND SERVICES INTO CONSIDERATION.
MR LI ALSO POINTED OUT THAT PERSONAL EMOLUMENTS IN REGARD TO SOCIAL CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY WERE ENTITLED TO ONLY 70 PER CENT OF THE MODEL SUBVENTION.
/HE SAID ...............