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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 1987
GOVERNMENT LACKS SINCERITY IN SUBVENTION POLICY
THE HON HUI YIN-FAT SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THE GOVERNMENT LACKED SINCERITY IN ACHIEVING THE SUBVENTION POLICY OBJECTIVES WHICH ARE TO GIVE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES PREDICTABLE INCOME TO FINANCE THEIR SERVICES AND MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY IN THE USE OF RESOURCES.
ALSO
SPEAKING IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON SOCIAL WELFARE BUBVENTION POLICY TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR' HUI CHARGED THE GOVERNMENT FOR LACKING COMMITMENT ΤΟ IMPLEMENTATION OF THE STANDARD COSTS SYSTEM PROMISED IN 1982.
THE FULL
НЕ SAID THAT THE CRUX OF THE MATTER LAY IN AN UNEASY RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WHICH HAD DETERIORATED.
"A CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT'S INVETERATE ATTITUDE MUST PRECEDE ANY POLICY CHANGE, HE SAID.
"
"INSTEAD OF RESTRICTING THE LEVEL OF SUPPORT SET AT MINIMUM STANDARDS, GOVERNMENT OUGHT TO LIVE UP TO ITS FIRM COMMITMENT ΤΟ SOCIAL WELFARE, PARTICULARLY WHEN INCREASE IN SOCIAL WELFARE ALLOCATIONS HAD BEEN PROMISED FOR 1987-88, MR HUI SAID.
HE SET OUT A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS FOR GOVERNMENT'S ACTION:
THAT A THREE-YEAR PLAN BE DRAWN UP ΤΟ PUT ALL SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES UNDER THE STANDARD COSTS SYSTEM;
THAT A CONTINUING EXERCISE BE STARTED IMMEDIATELY TO REVIEW AND UPGRADE CATEGORY II SERVICE (DESIRABLE SERVICE) TO CATEGORY I (ESSENTIAL SERVICE) IN KEEPING WITH CHANGING SOCIAL NEEDS:
THAT CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION BE CLASSIFIED AS CATEGORY I SERVICE AND SUBVENTED IN FULL;
THAT LUMP SUM DISCRETIONARY GRANTS BE ELIMINATED.
IN ADDITION, HE SUGGESTED THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD REPLACE ITS OBDURATE CONTROL AND MONITORING WITH POSITIVE, OBJECTIVE ASSESSMENT IN RETURN FOR GOOD MANAGEMENT WITH CLEAR ACCOUNTABILITY.
"TO DEMONSTRATE GOVERNMENT'S OPEN ATTITUDE AND TO PURSUE THE PARTNERSHIP RELATIONSHIP, I WOULD URGE THE GOVERNMENT TO RECONSIDER THE SUGGESTION FOR VOLUNTARY AGENCIES ΤΟ RE REPRESENTED ON THE WORKING GROUP AND OTHER COMMITTEES DEALING WITH THE FINANCING OPERATION OF VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES.
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