XN000022-1974-11-13 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1974.

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MR. LI SAID THE INCREASE WAS NOT UNEXPECTED AS THE DISABILITY AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE SCHEME ONLY CAME INTO OPERATION IN APRIL 1973 AND BOTH SCHEMES HAVE HAD THEIR RATES INCREASED THREE TIMES BY AN AGGREGATE OF 62 PER CENT SINCE JUNE LAST YEAR.

+THE TREND IN PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CASES STILL SHOWS A RISE, PROBABLY REFLECTING THE PRESENT, AND I HOPE TEMPORARY, DIFFICULT EMPLOYMENT SITUATION. HOWEVER THERE ARE INDICATIONS THAT THE DISABILITY AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE CASELOAD IS BEGINNING TO LEVEL OUT.+

A FURTHER $1-1/4 MILLION HAS BEEN PAID OUT UNDER THE CRIMINAL LAW ENFORCEMENT INJURIES COMPENSATION SCHEME SINCE ITS INCEPTION 18. MONTHS AGO. THE SCHEME IS DESIGNED TO COMPENSATE BY EX-GRATIA PAYMENT THOSE VICTIMS OF CRIMES OF VIOLENCE AND THOSE WHO ARE ACCIDENTALLY INJURED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

ON THE SUBJECT OF RESEARCH, MR. LI SAID HE WAS CURRENTLY REVIEWING THE MEANS BY WHICH RESEARCH INTO SOCIAL PROBLEMS IS ORGANISED AND CO-ORDINATED +SO THAT WE MAY BETTER UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY AND HOW BEST THE RESOURCES BOTH IN FINANCE AND MANPOWER CAN BE DEPLOYED.+

AT THE SAME TIME AND WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE A START HAS BEEN MADE ON EVALUATION PROGRAMME ON THE RELATIVE EFFICACY OF THE VARIOUS AGENCIES WORKING IN SOCIAL WELFARE WITH A VIEW TO INCREASING GENERAL EFFICIENCY AND MAKING BETTER USE OF RESOURCES.

+THE RESULTS OF THIS EXAMINATION SHOULD ENABLE CONSIDERATION TO BE GIVEN TO THE POSSIBILITY OF VARIOUS ORGANISATIONS AMALGAMATING OR, PERHAPS, REORGANISING THEMSELVES TO BRING ABOUT A MORE EQUITABLE GEOGRAPHIC SPREAD OF SERVICE,+ MR. LI SAID.

ALTHOUGH HE WAS CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO PRESERVE THE IDENTITY AND ENTHUSIASM OF ORGANISATIONS, +GREATER EFFICIENCY MUST BE THE ULTIMATE AIM.+

+IT WOULD BE WRONG FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO CONTINUE TO SUBVENT SERVICES WHICH ARE NO LONGER JUSTIFIED, WHILE DEPRIVING THOSE ORGANISATIONS, WHICH PROVIDE SERVICES TO MEET THE COMMUNITY'S CURRENT NEEDS. OF THEIR FAIR SHARE OF OUR SOCIAL WELFARE RESOURCES,+ MR. LI SAID.

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