XN000022-1973-01-15 — Page 2

1.

Monday, January 15, 1973

DRAFT WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL WELFARE

Social Welfare Planning Committee Considers Public Comments

Preparation of the draft white paper on social welfare in the years

ahead and its accompanying five-year plan as "a joint exercise between the

Government and the private sector" was generally endorsed by the public,

according to a breakdown of comments received.

The draft white paper was tabled in the Legislative Council on

October 18, 1972, and a foreword invited members of the public to submit

their views to the Social Welfare Planning Committee.

In response to this invitation, Mr. F.K. Li, Director of Social

Welfare and Chairman of the Committee, said today 167 comments had been

received, including eight letters from government departments, 27 from various

kaifong associations, 18 from voluntary agencies, 15 from the universities,

colleges and schools, and 46 from individuals.

There was a general welcome for the draft white paper, which was

recognised as the "most obvious sign that social welfare had come of age

in Hong Kong," and which was "most explicitly seen in the fact that the

Government accepted ultimate responsibility for the provision of satisfactory

social welfare services."

Many comments were received on the proposed disability and infirmity

allowance scheme. There was unanimous support for a non-means tested scheme.

Some people felt that to define the infirm as over 75 was too high a limit,

and the majority of these criticisms suggested 70 instead.

The intention