XN000022-1978-04-12 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12, 1978

6.

FUND INCREASES ADEQUATE FOR SOCIAL WELFARE EXPANSION

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THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, THE HON. THOMAS LEE, TODAY DISPELLED DOUETS AS TO THE ADEQUACY OF THE INCREASED PROVISIONS FOR RECURRENT EXPENDITURE ON SOCIAL WELFARE.

REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED BY THE UNOFFICIALS AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. LEE POINTED OUT THAT THE INCREASE WAS SUBSTANTIAL, BOTH IN ABSOLUTE TERMS AND AS A PERCENTAGE.

HE EMPHASISED THE PROVISIONS WOULD BE ADEQUATE TO MAINTAIN EXISTING SERVICES, TO MEET INCREASED COSTS AND TO CATER FOR NEW PROJECTS LIKELY TO BE IMPLEMENTED DURING THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.

CITING FIGURES. HE SAID THE INCREASE IN SOCIAL WELFARE SUE- VENTION WOULD BE 47 PER CENT OR $32 MILLION THE GOVERNMENT'S SOCIAL SECURITY SERVICES WOULD ATTRACT AN INCREASE OF 21 PER CENT OR $58.5 MILLION, AND OTHER SERVICES, 15 PER CENT OR $10.3 MILLION,

ON THE PROVISION OF FUNDS FOR SOCIAL WELFARE SUBVENTION, MR. LEE POINTED OUT THAT IN THE RECENTLY COMPLETED ALLOCATION EXERCISE FOR 1978/79, THERE HAD NOT BEEN A SINGLE CASE WHERE AN APPROVED NEW PROJECT WITHIN AGREED POLICY WAS DENIED SUPPORT BECAUSE OF INSUFFICIENT FUNDS.

HE GAVE THE ASSURANCE THAT IN APPROVING SUBVENTION TO A VOLUNTARY AGENCY, THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE CONSIDERED SUCH PERTINENT FACTORS AS SALARY INCREASE, INCREASE IN PROVIDENT FUND CONTRIBUTIONS, INCREASE IN RENT AND RATES AS WELL AS ANY JUSTIFIABLE INCREASE IN OTHER COSTS OF PROVIDING THE SERVICE.

+ I CONSIDER THE PRESENT PRACTICE IS SATISFACTORY AS LONG AS SUBVENTION REMAINS ON A DISCRETIONARY EASIS, HE ADDED.

AS USUAL, HE SAID, THERE WOULD BE SOME FUNDS FOR +CONTINGENCIES+ DURING 1978/79, AND THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE WOULD BE PLEASED TO CONSIDER, WHERE THIS COULD BE JUSTIFIED, THE REQUEST BY A VOLUNTARY AGENCY FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT EITHER FOR ITS EXISTING SERVICE OR FOR A NEW PROJECT.

WITH REGARD TO A SUGGESTION BY DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG ON THE ALTERNATIVE USE OF THE 7 MILLION RESERVED FOR IMPLEMENTING PROPOSALS OF THE YOUTH AND ELDERLY GREEN PAPERS, MR. LEE SAID IT WOULD NOT BE NECESSARY.

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE 93 MILLION ALLOCATED FOR EXISTING SERVICES AND NEW SOCIAL WELFARE PROJECTS UNDER PRESENT POLICIES, INCLUDING THOSE IN THE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME, WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TO MEET EXISTING SERVICES AND NEW PROJECTS PLANNED FOR THE CURRENT YEAR.

/+FURTHERMORE,