XN000022-1976-03-25 — Page 13

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THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 1976

GOV'T URGED TO SPEND MORE ON PREVENTIVE SOCIAL SERVICES ******

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER SPENDING MORE ON PREVENTIVE AND GENERAL DEVELOPMENTAL SOCIAL SERVICES IF THE ECONOMIC SITUATION DURING THE COMING YEAR SHOULD IMPROVE, THE HON. MISS KO SIU-WAH SAID TODAY.

SPEAKING IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MISS KO SAID THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME AND THE DISABILITY AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCES ALONE WERE NOT ENOUGH TO MEET THE RAPIDLY CHANGING HUMAN NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE IN OUR INCREASINGLY SOPHISTICATED COMMUNITY.

WHILE THEY SHOULD REMAIN AS FUNDAMENTAL SERVICES, SHE SAID, +OTHER SERVICES NEED TO BE DEVELOPED TO ENABLE THE PEOPLE TO COPE WITH PERSONAL AND FAMILY DIFFICULTIES.+

THESE INCLUDED SERVICES FOR PROBLEM CHILDREN AND YOUTH, SCHOOL DROP-OUTS, WORKING MOTHERS, BROKEN FAMILIES, HOMELESS OLD PEOPLE AND THE DISABLED, SHE SAID.

THERE WAS ALSO A GREAT NEED FOR OTHER PREVENTIVE AND CURATIVE SERVICES, MISS KO ADDED, TO HELP BUILD A STABLE AND HAPPY COMMUNITY, WHICH IS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT FACTORS IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.+

THESE SERVICES, MAINLY PREVENTIVE, INCLUDED FAMILY SERVICE, COMMUNITY AND YOUTH SERVICE, REHABILITATION SERVICE AND PROBATION AND CORRECTIVE SERVICE.

+ALL THESE ARE SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES OTHER THAN CASH PAYMENTS,+ SHE SAID,

SHE POINTED OUT THAT EVEN WHEN THE SUBVENTION VOTE OF $52 MILLION FOR SOCIAL WELFARE WAS ADDED, THE TOTAL FOR ALL WELFARE SERVICES APART FROM THE SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES WAS ONLY $56.5 MILLION, OR ABOUT 13.8 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL BUDGET FOR SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES COMPARED WITH THE 73 PER CENT SHARE OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND DISABILITY AND INFIRMITY ALLOWANCES.

ON THE SUBJECT OF SUBVENTION FOR WELFARE AGENCIES, MISS KO ASKED TO BE ASSURED THAT ALLOCATION OF FUNDS WOULD BE CAREFULLY AND FAVOURABLY CONSIDERED BY THE GOVERNMENT, AS LONG AS THERE WAS A REAL NEED FOR THE SERVICE AND THE AGENCY ENDEAVOURED TO PLAY ITS PART EFFECTIVELY IN THE PROVISION OF SUCH A SERVICE.

+ IN THE HISTORY OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES IN HONG KONG, THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES HAVE BEEN AND ARE STILL PLAYING A VERY IMPORTANT ROLE INCLUDING THE PIONEERING OF NEW SERVICES AS WELL AS CO-OPERATING CLOSELY WITH GOVERNMENT IN THEIR ENDEAVOURS.

/+VOLUNT.PY