XN000022-1976-10-13 — Page 7

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1976

MAXIMUM OF 20 QUESTIONS AT ANY ONE LEGCO SITTING

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY PASSED A RESOLUTION WHICH SEEKS TO INCREASE FROM 15 TO 20 THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT CAN BE ASKED AT ANY ONE SITTING BY AMENDING THE STANDING ORDERS OF THE COUNCIL.

IN MOVING THE MOTION, THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, DR. THE HON. S.Y. CHUNG SAID: +WITH THE RECENT EXPANSION OF THIS COUNCIL MY UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES AND I REGARD IT AS BOTH APPROPRIATE AND TIMELY FOR THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF QUESTIONS WHICH CAN BE ASKED AT ANY ONE SITTING OF THE COUNCIL UNDER STANDING ORDER 16 (2) TO BE INCREASED SO AS TO ACCORD MORE CLOSELY WITH OUR OWN NUMBER.

+WE DO, OF COURSE, READILY APPRECIATE THAT THE PREPARATION OF ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS INVOLVES A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF WORK ON THE OFFICIAL SIDE AND FOR THIS VERY REASON WE HAVE TRIED TO STRIKE A HAPPY MEDIUM ACCEPTABLE TO BOTH SIDES.+

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GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION SERVICES TABLED ******

A GREEN PAPER OUTLINING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED IN THE NEXT TEN YEARS WAS TABLED AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON, MORRIS MORGAN. TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT IT WAS THE FIRST ATTEMPT BY THE GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW COMPREHENSIVELY THE DEMAND FOR AND THE SHORTFALL OF SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED.

HE SAID THE INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP WHICH DRAFTED THE PAPER, THOUGH FACED WITH A FORMIDABLE NUMBER OF TECHNICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROBLEMS, HAD BEEN ABLE TO MAKE LONG-TERM FORECASTS OF NEEDS AND TO PROPOSE PLANS FOR DEVELOPMENT IN MOST AREAS.

HOW

THIS INCLUDED SUCH ISSUES AS HOW IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT SERVICES SHOULD BE IMPROVED AND EXPANDED SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES SHOULD BE DEVELOPED HOW MEDICAL REHABILITATION SERVICES SHOULD BE EXPANDED HOW SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES SHOULD BE IMPROVED AND HOW POLICIES AND SERVICES IN THE FIELD OF REHABILITATION SHOULD BE CO-ORDINATED IN THE FUTURE.

+HOWEVER, THERE ARE STILL AREAS INTO WHICH FURTHER RESEARCH MUST BE UNDERTAKEN AND IT IS PROPOSED TO DO THIS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS IN THE FUTURE, MR. MORGAN SAID,

HE URGED MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WHO WISHED TO COMMENT ON THE PAPER TO DO SO BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR SO THAT THE GOVERNMENT COULD REACH AN EARLY CONCLUSION ON THE PROGRAMME OF DEVELOPMENT.

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