9
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 1987
IN HIS OWN VIEW, MR CHAMBERS AGREED WITH THE WORKING GROUP THAT AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF CALCULATING SALARY REQUIREMENTS BE FURTHER EXPLORED TO SATISFACTORILY RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.
SHOULD
HE LOOKED FORWARD TO RECEIVING THE ADVICE FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE ON THE WORKING GROUP'S REPORT, WHICH HAD ALSO BEEN STUDIED BY THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE, FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SYSTEM.
CONCERNING THE CATEGORISATION OF SERVICES IN THE NEW SUBVENTION SYSTEM, MR CHAMBERS SAID, "CATEGORY I SERVICES ARE THOSE FOR WHICH A STANDARD COST CAN BE ESTABLISHED AND WHICH ARE EITHER STATUTORY IN NATURE OR ENSURE THAT A FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN NEED
MET. OTHER SERVICES ARE PLACED IN CATEGORY II.”
"A SERVICE IN CATEGORY I RECEIVES SUBVENTION AT 100 PER CENT OF THE STANDARD COST ESTABLISHED FOR THAT SERVICE, HE CONTINUED.
11
A
HE FURTHER SAID THAT CATEGORY II SERVICES RECEIVED SUBVENTION COVERING A PROPORTION OF THE STANDARD COST, OR IF A STANDARD COST COULD NOT BE ESTABLISHED, A LUMP SUM, THE AMOUNT TO BE DECIDED ACCORDING TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF EACH CASE.
STATING THE PRINCIPLE BEHIND THE CATEGORISATION SYSTEM, MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT PRIORITY WAS GIVEN TO THE MOST ESSENTIAL SERVICES SUBJECT TO THE ADVICE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE.
AS REGARDS THE SUBVENTION FOR CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION OF MULTI-SERVICE AGENCIES, HE SAID IT WAS NOT PRACTICABLE TO HAVE A STANDARD COST ARRANGEMENT FOR A NON-STANDARD SERVICE AS THE
ADMINISTRATION.
HOWEVER, HE SAID THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE WAS NOW REVIEWING THE METHOD OF SUBVENTING CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION WITH A VIEW TO RATIONALISING THE METHODOLOGY AND WORKING OUT SOME PRINCIPLES FOR ASSESSING THE LEVEL OF SUBVENTION.
"THE REVIEW, WHICH SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY OCTOBER, WILL INCLUDE AGENCIES' ACCOUNTING REQUIREMENTS, HE ADDED.
"
MR CHAMBERS, IN ADDITION, REFERRED TO THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE AGENCIES AND THE GOVERNMENT "WHICH IS THE BASIS OF OUR SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES",
HE REFUTED THE ALLEGED CONTINUAL BATTLE BETWEEN THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR.
DESPITE THE FACT THAT RESOURCES COULD NOT BE UNLIMITED AND THAT THERE HAD TO BE CONTROLS AND MONITORING OF HOW PUBLIC MONEY WAS SPENT, MR CHAMBER'S OWN EXPERIENCE WAS THAT "THERE IS A GREAT DEAL GENUINE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE TWO PARTIES"
OF
/10