XN000022-1976-07-21 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, JULY 21, 1976

SUBVENTIONS FOR WELFARE AGENCIES

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OF THE $52 MILLION PROVIDED THIS YEAR FOR SUBVENTIONS TO SOCIAL WELFARE AGENCIES, OVER $1 MILLION HAS BEEN SET ASIDE TO MEET URGENT APPLICATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL FUNDS AND FOR UNFORESEEN CONTIGENCIES DURING THE YEAR.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON. M.C. MORGAN, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM DR. THE HON. HARRY S. Y. FANG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MR. MORGAN SAID THE MONEY WAS SET ASIDE ON THE ADVICE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND IT WAS CONSIDERED THE AMOUNT WOULD BE ADEQUATE TO COPE WITH ANY DIFFICULTIES AGENCIES MIGHT BE FACING.

+BUT IF IT SHOULD PROVE INSUFFICIENT, THE GOVERNMENT IS ALWAYS PREPARED TO CONSIDER RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, HE SAID.

+THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE HAS ALREADY INDICATED TO VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES THAT SUPPLEMENTARY SUBVENTIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED FOR THOSE AGENCIES WHICH REQUIRE THEM TO IMPROVE THE SALARIES OF THEIR STAFF IN LINE WITH THE RECENT AWARD TO THE CIVIL SERVICE, HE ADDED.

STEPS TO EASE TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN GARDEN ROAD *****

TWO NEW MEASURES TO ALLEVIATE TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN GARDEN ROAD AND COTTON TREE DRIVE ARE ABOUT TO BE PUT IN HAND, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE HON. D.W. MCDONALD TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. F.W. LI, HE SAID: +THE FIRST OF THESE MEASURES IS THE PROVISION OF ADDITIONAL DOUBLE-LINE LANE MARKINGS ON COTTON TREE DRIVE BEYOND THE KENNEDY ROAD SLIP-ROAD UP THROUGH GARDEN ROAD TO THE ROUNDABOUT.+

THIS SHOULD PREVENT THE IRRESPONSIBLE LANE-JUMPING WHICH OFTEN CAUSES ACCIDENTS, DELAYS AND FRUSTRATION, MR, MCDONALD SAID.

THE SUCCESS OF THE RECENTLY APPLIED DOUBLE-LINE LANE MARKING ON COTTON TREE DRIVE DOWNHILL OF THE SLIP-ROAD TO KENNEDY ROAD, HE ADDED, JUSTIFIED EXTENDING THE MARKINGS UPHILL.

+ THE SECOND MEASURE IS AN INTERIM WIDENING OF ROBINSON ROAD FROM GARDEN ROAD TO A POINT ABOUT 100 YARDS WEST OF OLD PEAK ROAD WHICH WILL PROVIDE FOR TWO LANES OF WESTBOUND TRAFFIC AND WILL ALLOW VEHICLES DESTINED FOR OLD PEAK ROAD TO SLIP CUT FROM THE ONGOING TRAFFIC FLOW,+ HE EXPLAINED.

THIS WIDENING, HE SAID, WOULD ALSO HELP TRAFFIC DIVERS IONS DURING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PERMANENT ROAD IMPROVEMENT WORKS ALONG ROBINSON ROAD BETWEEN CLD PEAK ROAD AND GLENEALY,

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