XN000022-1976-10-27 — Page 14

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1976

REVIEW OF SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMME WELCOMED

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THE HON. MISS KO STU-WAH WELCOMED THE NEWS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOW CONDUCTING A MAJOR REVIEW OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMME.

SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, MISS KO DESCRIBED THE MOVE AS +VERY WISE AND NECESSARY+.

SHE SUPPORTED WHOLEHEARTEDLY THE PROPOSAL TO EXTEND PUBLIC ASSISTANCE TO COVER ABLE-BODIED PERSONS BETWEEN 15 AND 55 SO THAT THE UNEMPLOYED WOULD ALSO BE ASSISTED.

+THIS IS A GREAT LEAP FORWARD IN MENDING THE MOST OBVIOUS HOLE IN OUR SAFETY NET FOR THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG, SHE SAID.

HOWEVER, MISS KO STRESSED THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO MAKE SATISFACTORY ARRANGEMENTS TO PREVENT ABUSE, INCLUDING A RESIDENCE QUALIFICATION, A DEFINED PERIOD OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND EFFECTIVE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES.

SHE PROPOSED THAT DURING THE REVIEW OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM, THE POSSIBILITY OF INTRODUCING THE CATEGORISED ASSISTANCE METHOD SHOULD BE CONSIDERED,

SHE SUGGESTED THAT CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF PEOPLE WHOSE NEED WAS DEMONSTRABLY GREATER SHOULD NOT ONLY BE PROVIDED WITH ASSISTANCE THAT SUPPORTS THEM AT THE MINIMUM SUBSISTENCE LEVEL BUT AT A LEVEL SUFFICIENT TO ENABLE THEM TO MAINTAIN THE IR LIVELIHOOD WITH A MEASURE OF SELF-RESPECT.

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+ IN OTHER WORDS, SHE SAID, A REASONABLE AND HIGHER SCALE RATE OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE CATERING FOR VARIOUS CATEGORIES OF NEED SHOULD BE PROVIDED.+

MISS KO THOUGHT THAT THIS CATEGORISED ASSISTANCE METHOD WOULD HELP THOSE MORE WHO WERE MORE IN NEED AND MAKE THE WHOLE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM MORE FLEXIBLE AND EQUITABLE.

IT WOULD ALSO SERVE TO REGULATE SOME OF THE DISCRETIONARY POWERS PRESENTLY EXERCISED BY SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICERS, SHE NOTED.

MISS KO CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER THE POSSIBILITY OF LOWERING THE AGE OF ELIGIBILITY FOR INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE FROM 75 TO 70.

TURNING TO PREVENTIVE YOUTH SERVICES, MISS KO SAID THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO RECOMMEND THE EXPANSION OF THE YOUTH GUIDANCE PROJECTS, THE EXTENSION OF SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK, THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE PLAYLEADERSHIP SCHEME AND DETACHED WORK AND THE INTEGRATION OF FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION INTO ALL PROGRAMMES FOR YOUTH.

/SHE SUGGESTED