XN000022-1974-04-22 — Page 6

MONDAY, APRIL 22, 1974.

ONE WEEK LEFT TO APPLY FOR WELFARE ACCOMMODATION

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A SPUKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT TODAY REMINDED VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS THAT THERE WAS ONLY ONE WEEK LEFT FOR THEM TO APPLY FOR SPACE TU OPERATE SERVICES IN THE NEW LEI MUK SHUE ESTATE WELFARE CUMPLEX NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

A NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECEIVED, SAID MISS ELLEN CHAN, ASSISTANT SECRETARY CPLANNING), BUT SHE HOPED MORE AGENCIES WOULD APPLY SO THAT A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF SERVICES COULD BE PROVIDED FOR PEOPLE IN THE ESTATE AND ITS SURROUNDS.

SHE ENVISAGED THAT THESE SERVICES WOULD INCLUDE A LOW-COST CLINIC, A FAMILY PLANNING CLINIC, A LIBRARY AND STUDY ROOMS, FAMILY WELFARE SERVICES, A DAY NURSERY, CHILDREN AND YOUTH ACTIVITIES AND OTHER SERVICES TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY.

MORE DETAILS AND APPLICATION FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED BY CALLING MISS CHAN AT 5-773249.

ACCOMMODATION FOR WELFARE SERVICES IN LEI MUK SHUE ESTA TE WILL DIFFER FROM THAT PROVIDED IN OTHER HOUSING ESTATES IN THAT WELFARE ORGANISATIONS WILL BE GIVEN SPACE IN THE LOWER FLOORS OF BLUCKS 1 AND 2 WHILE A SEPARATE BUILDING WILL HOUSE A COMMUNITY HALL.

THE WELFARE PREMISES WILL BE MANAGED BY THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT WHILE THE COMMUNITY HALL WILL BE UNDER THE CHARGE OF THE SUCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

LEI MUK SHUE ESTATE IS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION SOMETIME NEXT YEAR AND WILL THEN CONSIST OF 18 RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS. SO FAR, EIGHT OF THESE HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND OCCUPIED.

INCREASE IN PENSIONS

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THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED AN EIGHT PER CENT INCREASE IN PENSIONS WITH EFFECT FROM DECEMBER 1, 1973.

THIS INCREASE WILL BE PAID TO ALL GOVERNMENT PENSIONERS IN RECEIPT OF PENSIONS ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 1, 1973, AS WELL AS TO OFFICERS RETIRING AFTER THIS DATE, AND WHO HAVE REACHED THE AGE OF 55..

WIDOWS AND ORPHANS PENSIONS WILL ALSO BE INCREASED BY EIGHT PER CENT WITH EFFECT FRUM DECEMBER 1.

PENSIONERS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE INCREASED BENEFITS WILL RECEIVE THEM IN THEIR REVISED PAYMENTS FOR JUNE 1974. ARREARS WILL BE PAID IN AUGUST 1974.