XN000022-1976-12-09 — Page 2

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1976

PROPOSED EXTENSION OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME

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DETAILED PROCEDURES FOR ADMINISTERING THE PROPOSED EXTENSION OF THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME TO COVER ABLE-BODIED PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15 AND 55 ARE BEING DRAWN UP, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, SAID TODAY.

SPEAKING AT THE LIONS CLUB OF TAI PING SHAN LUNCHEON MEETING, HE SAID THE PROCEDURES BEING DRAWN UP WOULD BE BASED ON FIVE PRINCIPLES.

THEY ARE :

* APPLICANTS SHOULD BE RESIDENTS OF HONG KONG FOR TWO YEARS,

* APPLICANTS MUST PROVE THEY ARE UNEMPLOYED AND PERIOD OF

UNEMPLOYMENT,

* APPLICANTS MUST REGISTER WITH THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT FOR

EMPLOYMENT AND MUST ACCEPT JOBS ARRANGED FOR THEM,

*

APPLICANTS MUST RE-AFFIRM THE IR UNEMPLOYMENT STATUS EVERY MONTH AND,

* YOUNG PERSONS BETWEEN 15 AND 17 YEARS OF AGE INCLUSIVE

SHOULD ONLY BE ELIGIBLE FOR ASSISTANCE AS HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS.

HE SAID THE PURPOSE TO EXTEND THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME WAS TO ASSIST FAMILIES WHOSE INCOME WAS BELOW THE LEVEL LAID DOWN

IN THE SCHEME, SO AS TO MAINTAIN THEM AT A BASIC SUBSISTENCE LEVEL.

THE PRINCIPLE BEHIND IT, HE POINTED OUT, WAS TO HELP ABLE- BODIED PEOPLE WHO WERE WITHOUT WORK TO QUICKLY BECOME SELF-SUFFICIENT AGAIN AND TO PREVENT THEM FROM DEVELOPING A SENSE OF DEPENDENCY.

+THE GOVERNMENT IS NOW CAREFULLY WORKING OUT PROCEDURES FOR ADMINISTERING OF THE NEW SCHEME. IT IS HOPED THAT WITH FURTHER EXPERIENCE IMPROVEMENT WILL BE MADE TO STRENGTHEN THE SAFEGUARDS AGAINST ABUSE, HE SAID.

REGARDING FEAR THAT PEOPLE MIGHT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NEW SCHEME, MR. LEE SAID FROM PAST EXPERIENCE CASES OF SUCH NATURE WERE RARE.

+1 FEEL QUITE CERTAIN THAT THE NEW MEASURE IS UNLIKELY TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GIVE UP THEIR JOBS FOR A LESSER AMOUNT OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, HE SAID.

THE DIRECTOR DISCLOSED THAT DURING THE PAST 5-1/2 YEARS SINCE THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT STARTED PROVIDING CASH GRANTS, THE RATE OF ASSISTANCE HAD BEEN REVISED FOUR TIMES BY REFERENCE TO THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE INDEX OF PRICES.

/HE CONTINUED