XN000022-1978-03-30 — Page 12

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THURSDAY, MARCH 30, 1978

WHILE THE RIGHT BALANCE IS A MATTER OF OPINION, THERE SEEMS TO BE A TENDENCY WITHIN GOVERNMENT CIRCLES, AND ELSEWHERE, TO ASSUME THAT THE LARGER THE SHARE OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE DEVOTED TO THE SOCIAL SERVICES THE BETTER. THERE IS NO LOGICAL BASIS FOR THIS ASSUMPTION,+ SHE SAID.

SHE SAID THAT AS HONG KONG BECOMES BETTER OFF, IT IS BOTH POSSIBLE AND RIGHT THAT MORE SHOULD BE SPENT TO IMPROVE THE LOT OF THE LESS FORTUNATE AND AT THE EXPENSE OF THE MORE FORTUNATE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME THE GENERAL QUALITY OF LIFE MUST BE IMPROVED AND SHE FEARED THAT PRIORITIES ARE INFLUENCED BY THIS GROUNDLESS ASSUMPTION.

MISS DUNN REFERRED TO OUR FISCAL SYSTEM, WHICH HAS BEEN HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL, THOUGH NARROWLY BASED AND COUPLED WITH A LOW AND RARELY CHANGED STANDARD RATE OF TAX. SHE SAID THAT IN THIS FISCAL CONTEXT, +ONLY A LIMITED RANGE OF SOCIAL SERVICES, SUCH AS PRIMARY EDUCATION, SHOULD BE PROVIDED FREE ON A NON-MEANS TESTED BASIS... ALL OTHER SOCIAL SERVICES SHOULD BE CHARGED FOR, REMISSION OF FEES BEING ARRANGED FOR THOSE UNABLE TO PAY.+

+THIS PRINCIPLE IS ACCEPTED BY THE VAST MAJORITY OF CHINESE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG.+

SHE THEREFORE THOUGHT IT INCONSISTENT WITH THIS PRINCIPLE THAT JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION IS TO BE FREE FROM THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. EVEN THOUGH MANY PARENTS MAY BE WILLING AND CERTAINLY MANY ARE WELL ABLE TO PAY THEIR CHILDREN'S SCHOOL FEES, THEY WILL NOT HAVE TO PAY IN FUTURE, SHE SAID.

SHE SAID THE COST OF THIS, AT $80 MILLION IN A FULL YEAR, COULD BE MORE PROPERLY SPENT ON IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM OR ON OTHER SERVICES.

SHE KNEW THE GOVERNMENT REGARDS SUCH FREE EDUCATION AS BEING A CONSEQUENCE OF UNIVERSAL, COMPULSORY EDUCATION AT THIS LEVEL BUT SHE THOUGHT IT HAS AN OBLIGATION TO SPELL OUT THE LOGIC OF THIS ARGUMENT SO THAT ITS VIEWPOINT CAN BE BETTER ASSESSED.

VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES

DESERVE ADEQUATE FINANCIAL SUPPORT

*****

DR. THE HON. HENRY HU TODAY URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO GIVE ADEQUATE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES TO ENABLE THEM TO DEVELOP THEIR SERVICES.

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, DR. HU SAID THAT WHILE THE $100 MILLION PROVIDED IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR SUBVENTING VOLUNTARY AGENCIES REPRESENTED A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE OVER PREVIOUS YEARS, A LARGE PROPORTION OF IT WOULD ACTUALLY GO TOWARDS MAINTAINING EXISTING SERVICES, SALARY

INCREASES AND RENTS AND RATES.

/+ONLY A SMALL