• WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1992
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HE SAID HE WAS DETERMINED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ACHIEVE ALL THE KEY TARGETS FOR 1997.
HE SPELT OUT WHAT THIS SHOULD MEAN FOR THE PEOPLE CONCERNED:
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WE WILL
THE ELDERLY WILL RECEIVE A SPECIAL PRIORITY, PROVIDE THEM WITH AN ADDITIONAL 5,000 PLACES IN CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES AND HOMES FOR THE AGED. WE WILL ALSO ESTABLISH 14 MORE MULTI-SERVICE CENTRES AND 70 SOCIAL CENTRES.
FOR CHILDREN, WE WILL PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 5,600 NURSERY PLACES; AN EXTRA 1,200 DAY CRECHE PLACES; 200 MORE FOSTER CARE PLACES; AN ADDITIONAL 45 SMALL GROUP HOMES; AND AN EXTRA 60 SCHOOL SOCIAL WORKÉRS.
WE WILL ALSO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL 44 HOME HELP TEAMS.
"THESE IMPORTANT MEASURES WILL DO MUCH TO ENHANCE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MANY OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS AND THEIR FAMILIES," HE SAID.
PATTEN SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALSO UNDERTAKE A THOROUGH OVERHAUL OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM.
MR
"WE WILL INTRODUCE A COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE SCHEME TO IMPROVE MEANS-TESTED BENEFITS.
**THIS PACKAGE WILL PROVIDE, AS A
CONSOLIDATED SUM, INCOME
SUPPORT FOR THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF PARTICULAR GROUPS."
IN ADDITION, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO PROVIDE BENEFITS IN THE FORM OF A SOCIAL SECURITY ALLOWANCE FOR THOSE WHO WERE ELDERLY OR DISABLED BUT WHO WOULD NOT RECEIVE THE NEW MEANS-TESTED COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS,
"AND I CAN ASSURE THEM THAT THEIR LEVEL OF BENEFITS WILL BE MAINTAINED UNDER THE NEW ARRANGEMENTS."
HE SAID BASIC RATES UNDER THE EXISTING PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME RANGED BETWEEN $600 A MONTH FOR AN INDIVIDUAL IN A FAMILY TO $825 A MONTH FOR A SINGLE PERSON LIVING ALONE.
THESE CREATED ANOMALIES AND UNFAIR DIFFERENCES IN LEVELS OF
EXISTING PAYMENTS.
THE NEW COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL SECURITY ASSISTANCE SCHEME, HE SAID, WOULD REMOVE THESE DEFECTS.
"THE NEW SCHEME WILL ENSURE THAT THOSE MOST IN NEED WILL BE BETTER OFF, HE SAID.
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THE GOVERNOR ALSO HOPED THAT LEGCO MEMBERS WOULD FUNDING FOR AN EASING OF RESTRICTIONS ON THE ABILITY OF TO RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS OUTSIDE HONG KONG.
APPROVE THE BENEFICIARIES
/THE CURRENT