XN000022-1977-03-31 — Page 11

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1977

CALL FOR MORE FUNDS FOR SOCIAL SERVICES ******

WITH A MORE BUOYANT HONG KONG ECONOMY, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD RID ITSELF OF THE CONSERVATISM SO CHARACTERISTIC OF ITS BUDGETARY EXERCISES IN THE PAST TWO OR THREE YEARS, THE HON. KO SIU-WAH SAID TODAY.

SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MISS KO CENTRED HER SPEECH ON FOUR POINTS LARGER ALLOCATION FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, THE NEED TO PROVIDE +BLOCK GRANTS+ FOR SOCIAL WELFARE DEVELOPMENT, EXTENSION OF THE INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE AND A CHANGE IN GOVERNMENT'S SUBVENTION POLICY TOWARDS VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.

ON ALLOCATION FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, SHE ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER MORE PROVISIONS FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, PARTICULARLY FOR SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMMES, TO COMPENSATE FOR THE CUT BACK IN RECENT YEARS IF THE ECONOMIC SITUATION IMPROVED EVEN BETTER THAN PROJECTED.

SHE NOTED THAT THE BUDGET FOR 1977-78 REPRESENTED A 20.5 PER CENT INCREASE OVER THAT FOR 1976-77 AND THAT THE PROPOSED APPROPRIATIONS FOR SOCIAL SERVICES IN THE GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE STAYED AT ABOUT 40 PER CENT, AS WERE THE CASE DURING THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS.

THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBER EXPRESSED RESERVATIONS ABOUT THE METHOD THE GOVERNMENT HAD ADOPTED TO FINANCE ITS SOCIAL PROGRAMMES, PARTICULARLY THE COSTS FOR SOCIAL WELFARE EXPANSION.

IS NOW

SHE SAID THIS WAS IMPORTANT AS HONG KONG BEGINNING TO HAVE SOCIAL PROJECTS AND PLANS WHICH EXTEND OVER NOT JUST FIVE, BUT 10 OR EVEN MORE YEARS.+

MISS KO DESCRIBED AS +ESPECIALLY WORRYING+ THE QUALIFICATION IN THE 1976 REVIEW OF THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN FOR SOCIAL WELFARE DEVELOPMENT IN HONG KONG +THAT THE INCLUSION OF ANY PARTICULAR PROJECT OR ACTIVITY IN THE PLAN DOES NOT OF ITSELF CONVEY ANY GUARANTEE OF IMPLEMENTATION+.

SHE CONTENDED THAT THE PRESENT PRACTICE OF LOOKING AT ONLY ONE YEAR AT A TIME SHOULD BE CHANGED.

SHE SAID SHE WAS NOT ASKING FOR A LARGER SHARE OF THE REVENUE FOR SOCIAL WELFARE, BUT FOR A CHANGE IN OUR BUDGETARY POLICY TO ENSURE THAT OUR SOCIAL GOALS ARE NOT THWARTED BY THE ECONOMIC VICISSITUDES OR THE UNDERSPENDING IN A PARTICULAR YEAR+.

/AS THE