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FRIDAY, JANUARY 22, 1988
CHANGES PROPOSED TO SOCIAL WORK TRAINING FUND COMMITTER
THE COMPOSITION OF THE SOCIAL WORK TRAINING FUND COMMITTEE WILL BE CHANGED UNDER AN AMENDMENT BILL PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).
AT PRESENT THE COMMITTEE CONSISTS OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE WHO IS THE CHAIRMAN ; THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES OR HIS NOMINEE; THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION OR HIS NOMINEE; AND SUCH OTHER MEMBERS NOT EXCEEDING THREE AS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT WHEN THE ORDINANCE WAS FIRST ENACTED IN 1961, THERE WAS A MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER GRADE IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND THE APPOINTMENT OF THE DIRECTOR MEDICAL AND HEALTH OR HIS REPRESENTATIVE AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE WAS INTENDED TO ADVISE ON THE TRAINING OF THIS GRADE.
OF
"HOWEVER, AS THE MEDICAL SOCIAL WORKER GRADE HAS BEEN INTEGRATED INTO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S SOCIAL WORK OFFICER GRADE, THERE IS NO LONGER A NEED FOR THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO BE REPRESENTED ON THIS COMMITTEE, HE SAID.
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THE SOCIAL WORK TRAINING FUND (AMENDMENT) BILL 1988 THEREFORE PROPOSED THAT THE COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE BE AMENDED BY REMOVING THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES OR HIS NOMINEE FROM ITS MEMBERSHIP.
TO REFLECT THE REDUCED COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE, IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE QUORUM REQUIRED FOR THE TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS BY THE COMMITTER BE CHANGED FROM FOUR MEMBERS TO THREE MEMBERS.
ANOTHER AMENDMENT IS TO CHANGE THE TIME SCHEDULE FOR TABLING THE ANNUAL REPORT AND THE AUDITED STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS OF THE SOCIAL WORK TRAINING FUND FROM SEPTEMBER 30 TO DECEMBER 31.
"PAST EXPERIENCE SHOWED THAT THE AUDITED ACCOUNTS AND THE REPORT USUALLY BECAME AVAILABLE ONLY BY MID-JULY WHEN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HAD ALREADY GONE INTO RECESS AND WOULD NOT RESUME UNTIL OCTOBER, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS ARE SUPPORTED THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES.
BY THE
COMMITTEE AND
THE BILL IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE ITS FIRST AND IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON FEBRUARY 3, 1988.
SECOND READINGS
THE OFFICE OF
JACKSON ROAD,
REPRESENTATIONS ON THE BILL CAN BE SENT TO MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS, 8 HONG KONG OR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, WORLD TRADE CENTRE, 280 GLOUCESTER ROAD, CAUSEWAY BAY, HONG KONG.
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