XN000022-1973-01-10 — Page 4

I

3

Wednesday, January 10, 1973

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME

December Figures Show Continuing Expansion

The total number of active cases in the public assistance schene

reached 17,728 at the end of December last year.

New applications received during the month totalled 960, and

cases reactivated numbered 133. At the same time, 905 cases were closed.

Cash payments during December totalled $2.6 million, bringing to

$34.3 million the grand total spent so far since the expanded scheme was

implemented on April 1, 1971.

In addition to public assistance, Mr. Tsau Tsor-yan, Senior Principal

Social Welfare Officer and head of the Public Assistance Division, says

during December, divisional officers responded to four emergencies produced

by fires.

As a result, 697 families were registered for emergency aid, and

3,629 people making up these families received hot food, blankets, cooking

utensils, and so on.

During December, the 17th field unit of the Public Assistance Division

was set up in the Sau Mau Ping Resettlement Estate to serve residents in the

Sau Mau Ping and Kwun Tong areas.

It is