XN000022-1977-03-30 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 1977

BETTER MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION OF SOCIAL WELFARE

OFFICES ADVOCATED

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THE HON. ROGER LOBO TODAY CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT TO STRENGTHEN ITS SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION TO PROVIDE +ADEQUATE AND EFFECTIVE SUPERVISION AND MANAGEMENT OF ITS MANY BRANCH OFFICES IN THE FIELD.+

SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE APPROPRIATION BILL 1977 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. LOBO NOTED THAT THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT HAD NOW 131 BRANCH OFFICES, SUB-OFFICES AND OTHER UNITS ALL BUT A FEW DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE PUBLIC WITH MANY OF THEM RESPONSIBLE ONLY FOR ONE PARTICULAR SERVICE.

HE URGED THAT EARLY STEPS BE TAKEN +TO CONSOLIDATE AND DECENTRALISE THE DEPARTMENT WITH A VIEW TO OFFERING IN EACH DISTRICT A COMPREHENSIVE SERVICE FOR THE PUBLIC UNDER ONE ROOF.

+NOT ONLY WOULD SUCH A SERVICE GREATLY HELP BEWILDERED PEOPLE SEEKING ASSISTANCE BUT SHOULD ALSO LEAD TO IMPROVED COORDINATION, GREATER EFFICIENCY AND, HOPEFULLY IN THE LONG-TERM, SOME SAVINGS IN ANNUALLY RECURRENT CHARGES WITH THE DEPARTMENT,+ HE SAID.

MR. LOBO, WHO HAD SERVED ON THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR 10 YEARS, ALSO NOTED THAT RECENTLY INCREASING WORKLOAD THRUST UPON MEMBERS IN EXAMINING APPLICATIONS FROM VOLUNTARY AGENCIES FOR SUBVENTIONS WAS MAKING THE TASK OF THE COMMITTEE EVEN MORE ONEROUS.

HE ASKED THAT THE PROCEDURE FOR DEALING WITH APPLICATIONS FOR SUBVENTIONS BE REVIEWED AND SUGGESTED SOME METHODS OF SPREADING THE WORKLOAD FOR THE COMMITTEE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

MR. LOBO WELCOMED THE MOVE TO ESTABLISH A NEW BRANCH IN THE AUDIT DEPARTMENT TO WATCH OVER SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS IN VIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT'S GROWING COMMITMENT TO SOCIAL WELFARE IN HONG KONG. (IN THE NEW FINANCIAL YEAR, THE GOVERNMENT IS EXPECTED TO SPEND $430 MILLION ON SOCIAL WELFARE COMPARED WITH $55 MILLION IN 1971-72.)

MR. LOBO STRESSED THAT THERE SHOULD BE STRICTER CONTROL OVER ALL SUCH ORGANISATIONS, NOT ONLY SHOULD THEY BE FINANCIALLY ACCOUNTABLE BUT THEY SHOULD ALSO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE QUALITY OF SERVICES THEY PROVIDED,

IN SUPPORTING THE BILL, MR. LOBO, HOWEVER, SPOKE UP FOR THE AGED AND PLEADED FOR MORE AID TO THEM.

/+I THINK