XN000022-1972-03-29 — Page 19

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Wednesday, March 29, 1972

SUBVENTIONS FOR VOLUNTARY WELFARE ORGANISATIONS

Financial Secretary Explains Allocation Methods

The Financial Secretary, the Hon. C.P. Haddon-Cave indicated to

the Legislative Council today there would be no change, at least for the

time being, in the bases upon which subventions are made to voluntary

welfare organisations.

Speaking at the resumed Budget debate, he said nearly all subvented

voluntary organisations were being assisted on the discretionary grant basis.

Government, he explained, was still operating on this basis, largely

because it had not yet crystallised its views on the development of social

welfare services through the voluntary sector.

However, he understood that the Director of Social Welfare was now

formulating revised ains for social welfare and drawing up specific targets

to meet these ains over a five year period.

"Subject to these recommendations being accepted by Government, I

an confident it will be possible to devise ways and means to enable public

funds to be applied more positively and meaningfully, "Mr. Haddon-Cave said.

The Financial Secretary was replying to a point raised by the Hon.

Mrs. Ellen Li, who had suggested that a system of what she called deficit

subsidies be adopted by Government for social welfare services in very much

the same way as medical and education subsidies, if a uniformly high standard

of service was to be maintained.

/Explaining