XN000022-1974-07-31 — Page 7

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 1974

POLICY ON SUBVENTIONS TO VOLUNTARY WELFARE

AGENCIES CLARIFIED

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AN IMMEDIATE CORRESPONDING INCREASE IS MADE IN SUBVENTION

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TO VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES WHEN GOVERNMENT SALARIES ARE RAISED, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON. LI FOOK-KOW, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

HOWEVER, HE POINTED OUT THAT THIS CORRESPONDING INCREASE IN SUBVENTION WOULD BE MADE ONLY IN RESPECT OF AGENCIES SUBVENTED ON A DEFICIENCY BASIS, AND NOT IN RESPECT OF AGENCIES SBVENTED ON A DISCRETIONARY BASIS.

MR. LI WAS CLARIFYING THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON THE ISSUE IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. MISS KO SIU-WAH.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE POLICY ON THIS MATTER WAS DEALT WITH BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY IN HIS SPEECH ON MARCH 27 IN WINDING- UP THE DEBATE ON THE APPROPIATION BILL 1974.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY DID SAY THAT HE WOULD BE WILLING TO CONSIDER SEEKING SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION FOR ADDITIONAL GRANTS PROVIDED THAT THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES SUBVENTED ON A DISCRETIONARY BASIS CAN PERSUADE THE DEPARTMENTS CONCERNED, AND THEY IN TURN CAN PERSUADE THE SECRETARIAT, THAT SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES IN COSTS DURING A FINANCIAL YEAR ARE AFFECTING THE AGENCIES' ABILITY TO PROVIDE THE SERVICES FOR WHICH THEY ARE SUBVENTED.

+ IT WAS STRESSED THAT THIS COULD NOT BE TAKEN AS IMPOSING AN OBLIGATION ON THE GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE SUPPLEMENTARY GRANTS WHICH, IN ALL CASES, WOULD DEPEND ON THE BUDGETARY POSITION OF THE MOMENT. + HE SAID.

WATER CUT IN NORTH POINT AND N.T.

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WATER SUPPLY TO A NUMBER OF BUILDINGS IN NORTH POINT, INCLUDING THE CAUSEWAY BAY MAGISTRACY, VICTORIA PARK AND HONG KONG ELECTRIC POWER STATION, WILL EE INTERRUPTED FOR FIVE HOURS BEGINNING AT 1 A.M. ON FRIDAY CAUCUST 2) TO FACILITATE NIGHT LEAKAGE TEST.

THE AREA AFFECTED IS BOUNDED BY ELECTRIC ROAD, LAU SIN STREET, HING FAT STREET AND THE SEA FRONT.

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IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, ALL PREMISES ALONG KAM SHEUNG ROAD BETWEEN KAM TIN ROAD AND SHEUNG TSUEN INCLUDING NG KA TSUEN, KAM TSIN WAI, TIN SAM TSUEN, KO PUI, YUEN KONG TEVEN, YUEN KONG 'SAN TSUEN, NGAU KENG TSUEN, SHUI LAU TIN, LIN FA TE! AND SHEUNG TSUEN, WILL HAVE THEIR SUPPLY TURNED OFF FROM 10 P.M. ON FRIDAY (AUGUST 2) TO 6 P.M. ON SATURDAY FOR THE INSTALLATION OF WATER MAINS.

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