XN000022-1977-03-31 — Page 12

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THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 1077

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AS THE ABILITY OF THE ECONOMY TO FINANCE PROGRAMMES OR POLICIES VARIED FROM YEAR TO YEAR, DEPENDENT AS IT WAS ON A NUMBER OF UNPREDICTABLE FACTORS, MISS KO CONTINUED MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THAT DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS WERE NOT UNNECESSARILY DELAYED BECAUSE OF ECONOMIC CONSTRAINTS OVER A CERTAIN PERIOD.

TO AVOID SUCH UPS AND DOWNS AND TO ENSURE THAT STEADY PROGRESS RESULTED FROM THE SOCIAL PROGRAMMES, SHE PROPOSED THAT EXPENDITURE RELATED TO THE EXPANSION OF SOCIAL WELFARE SHOULD BE TIED TO A MORE STEADY SOURCE THAN THE EXISTING ARRANGEMENT.

+ I WOULD SUGGEST THAT AS WE ARE NOW DRAWING UP A LIST OF PROGRAMME PLANS ON REHABILITATION, ON THE ELDERLY AND ON YOUTH, WE SHOULD ENSURE THEIR IMPLEMENTATION BY ALLOCATING 'BLOCK GRANTS' FOR EXPENDITURE, ESPECIALLY CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, FOR NEW PROJECTS ACCORDING TO THE VERY CAREFULLY CONSIDERED AND PRACTICAL PROGRAMME PLANS, SHE SAID.

MISS KO POINTED OUT THAT THE 'BLOCK GRANT' IDEA HAD LONG BEEN PRACTISED IN FINANCING BOTH CAPITAL AND RECURRENT EXPENDITURE OF THE TWO UNIVERSITIES AND THE POLYTECHNIC, NOT FOR A SINGLE YEAR, BUT OVER A LONGER PERIOD.

SHE FURTHER SUGGESTED THAT A LIST OF DESIRED SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES BE DRAWN UP, FOLLOWED BY THE VOTING OF A DEFINITE SUM FOR THE EXPANSION OVER A CERTAIN PERIOD.

IN DECIDING ON THE SIZE OF THIS VOTE, THE PROJECTED INCOME FROM THE LOTTERIES FUND SHOULD ALSO BE CONSIDERED, SHE SAID.

+ I MUST STRESS THAT IN PROPOSING THIS, I AM NOT TRYING TO DETACH OUR SOCIAL PROGRESS FROM ECONOMIC REALITY.

+ I AM PROPOSING A METHOD OF BRINGING THE BUDGETARY POLICY MORE IN LINE WITH OUR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT GOALS AND OUR DETERMINATION TO IMPLEMENT THE SOCIAL PROGRAMMES WHICH WE HAVE EITHER ADOPTED OR ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ADOPTING, + MISS KO EMPHASISED.

TURNING TO THE INFIRMITY ALLOWANCE SCHEME, MISS KO WELCOMED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S PROPOSAL OF LOWERING THE AGE LIMIT OF ELIGIBILITY.

SHE SUGGESTED THAT THIS LIMIT SHOULD FIRST BE LOWERED TO 70 AND EVENTUALLY 65.

SHE FELT THAT IF THE SCHEME REMAINED NON-MEANS-TESTED, IT SHOULD INCLUDE THOSE UNDER INSTITUTIONAL CARE.

/AT PRIMIT,