XN000022-1978-03-29 — Page 29

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29, 1978

MORE FUNDS NEEDED FOR EXPANSION OF SOCIAL SERVICES

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THE HON. MRS. KWAN KC SIU-WAH HAS ASKED, IN VIEW OF THE SURPLUS LAST YEAR, AND IN THE COMING YEAR IF EVIDENCE INDICATES THAT PUBLIC REVENUE WILL EXCEED EXPENDITURE, WHETHER MORE RESOURCES WILL BE IMMEDIATELY DIRECTED TO THE EXPANSION OF SOCIAL SERVICES WITHOUT AITING UNTIL THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE AT THE LEGISLATIV COUNCIL TODAY, SHE POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH THE ALLOCATION FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT FOR THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR IS TO INCREASE BY $99 MILLION TO 415 MILLION, A LARGE PART OF THE INCREASE, ABOUT 90 PER CENT, WILL BE ABSORBED BY THE EXPANSION OF THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND WELFARE ALLOWANCE SCHEMES AND SUBSEQUENT STAFF INCREASES.

APART FROM SOCIAL SECURITY, THE ALLOCATION WILL ALLOW LITTLE OPPORTUNITY FOR EXPANSION, LET ALONE IMPROVEMENT 13 QUALITY.

SHE EXPLAINED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER WELFARE SERVICES AND DOES NOT NECESSARILY REQUIRE PERSONNEL WITH SOCIAL WORK TRAINING. WHEN ALLOCATING BUDGET FUNDS THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REGARD THEM SEPARATELY SO AS TO DO JUSTICE TO THE ECTH.

THERE WILL BE A NEED FOR CLOSE CO-ORDINATION AND EFFECTIVE REFERRAL PROCEDURES BETWEEN THE TWO BUT SOCIAL SECURITY SHOULD HAVE ITS OWN ADMINISTRATION TO INCREASE ITS EFFICIENCY, SHE SA.......

AS TO THE $100 MILLION TO IE SUBVENTED TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, MRS. KWAN KO STU-WAR SAID THE INCREASE OF $28 MILLION APPEARS SUBSTANTIAL LUT CLOSER EXAMINATION SHOWS THAT 85.8 PER CENT WILL BE USED TO COVER THE COST OF MAINTAINING EXISTING SERVICES, SALARY INCREMENTS, RENT AND RATES INCREASES, AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO PROVIDENT FUNDS.

A MERE 7 PER CENT WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR CARRYING OUT THE MANY PROPOSALS IN THE GREEN PAPERS. THE 100 MILLION ALLOCATED WILL NOT BE ENOUGH MOT ONLY FOR THE GREEN PAPERS BUT ALSO FOR THE AGENCIES TO CARRY OUT THE IN EXISTING PROGRAMMES AND THE PROGRAMMES IN THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN FOR SOCIAL WELFARE DEVELOPMENT, SHE SAID.

IN FACT THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS ESTIMATED THE REQUIREMENTS TO BE AFOUT 116 MILLION IF THE EXISTING PROGRAMMES ARE TO CONTINUE AND ESSENTIAL TEM SERVICES ARE TO BE IMPLEMENTED, SHE ADDED.

SHE STRONGLY URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO ACT MORE POSITIVELY TO ENSURE THAT DEVELOPIENT PLANS ARE NOT DELAYED BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT FINANCIAL SUPPORT. +TME NAUGURCES AT THE DISPOSAL OF THE GOVERNMENT GIVE NO REASON FOR CAUTIO IV THIS AREA,'+ SHE SAID.

/REFERRING TO .....