XN000022-1977-06-15 — Page 13

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1977

WELFARE SERVICES FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS A SPECIAL CASE

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THE GOVERNMENT IS AWARE THAT THERE MAY BE A SPECIAL CASE FOR PROVIDING SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS LICENSED AREAS, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, THE HON. THOMAS LEE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN.

+A WORKING PARTY HAS THEREFORE BEEN SET UP. COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, FOR THE PURPOSE OF IDENTIFYING AREAS WITH SPECIAL NEED, CONSTANTLY REVIEWING THE NEED FOR SERVICES, AND RECOMMEND ING PROJECTS TO BE INTRODUCED, MR. LEE SAID,

HE POINTED OUT THAT AS A RESULT THERE WERE AT PRESENT 14 COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS RUN BY SIX VOLUNTARY AGENCIES IN NINE SUCH AREAS, INCLUDING KOWLOON BAY, THE LARGEST WITH A POPULATION OF ABOUT 10,000.

WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE AGENCY, HE SAID, ALL PROJECTS WERE FINANCED BY THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH SUBVENTION.

HE DISCLOSED THAT HIS DEPARTMENT WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS AND FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENTS TO SEE IF ACCOMMODATION AVAILABLE IN THESE AREAS WOULD BE SUITABLE FOR RUNNING NURSERIES,

IN THE MEANTIME, HE SAID, THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WERE ENCOURAGING THE RESIDENTS, LIKE OTHERS, TO USE WHEREVER POSSIBLE FACILITIES AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND ASSISTING THEM TO SET UP SELF-HELP PROGRAMMES.

ONE OF THE LARGER AND NEWER TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS WHICH HAD YET TO BE PROVIDED WITH COMMUNITY SERVICES WAS HA KWAI CHUNG WITH A POPULATION OF ABOUT 3,500, MR. LEE SAID.

+ THE WORKING PARTY IS IN THE PROCESS OF INTERESTING A VOLUNTARY AGENCY TO ESTABLISH SOME WELFARE SERVICE PROJECT THERE WHICH WOULD PROVIDE WHAT IS MOST NEEDED BY THE RESIDENTS IN THE AREA,+ HE NOTED.

APPLICATIONS FOR HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME MAY START NEXT YEAR

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THE GOVERNMENT IS EXPECTED TO INVITE APPLICATIONS FOR FLATS BUILT UNDER PHASE OF THE HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME IN JANUARY NEXT YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON. ALAN SCOTT SAID TODAY.

REPLYING TO QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE HON. LYDIA DUNN AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. SCOTT SAID THAT THAT WAS ABOUT ONE YEAR BEFORE THE FIRST FLATS WERE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.

MR. SCOTT ADDED IT WAS EXPECTED THAT THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE AND AVAILABLE MORTGAGE FACILITIES WOULD BE READY IN OCTOBER THIS YEAR.

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