XN000022-1978-04-26 — Page 16

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 1978

+IT CERTAINLY SOUNDS MUCH MORE AUSPICIOUS AND APPROPRIATE AS THE ULTIMATE BENEFIT IS INTENDED FOR THOSE WHO SURVIVE US,+ HE SAID.

HE ALSO WELCOMED FATHER MCGOVERN'S SUGGESTION TO CALL THE WELFARE ALLOWANCE 'SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE' AND SAID BOTH SUGGESTIONS WOULD RECEIVE MOST CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.

IN ADDITION, MR. LEE POINTED OUT THAT COMMENTS RECEIVED ON THOSE PROPOSALS IN THE GREEN PAPER INTENDED FOR IMPLEMENTATION FROM THIS MONTH WERE GENERALLY FAVOURABLE, AND THEREFORE THESE PROPOSALS HAD BEEN ADOPTED AFTER CONSULTATION ITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

REFERRING TO THE PROPOSED SICKNESS INJURY AND DEATH BENEFIT SCHEME ON WHICH MANY COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS HAD BEEN MADE MR. LEE SAID +WE MUST MOVE CAUTIOUSLY AS WE ARE BREAKING NEW GROUND HERE.+

HE STRESSED THAT ANY SCHEME WHICH WAS TO BE INTRODUCED IN THE FIELD OF SOCIAL INSURANCE MUST BE SUITED TO HONG KONG'S PARTICULAR NEEDS AND MUST NOT DISTORT THE ESTABLISHED PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME WHICH HAD ALREADY BECOME THE CORNERSTONE OF HONG KONG'S SOCIAL SECURITY POLICY AND PRACTICE.

WHILE NOT CLAIMING THAT THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME WAS PERFECT WITHOUT COMPLAINTS, HRY LEE POINTED OUT THAT THE DISBURSEMENT OF MORE THAN 300 MILLION ANNUALLY COULD NOT BE CARRIED OUT CONSISTENTLY AND PRUDENTLY WITHOUT REQUIRING THE FRONT-LINE STAFF TO ACT WITHIN THE CONFINES OF CERTAIN PROCEDURES.

+ I HOPE THAT THE HARD WORK PUT IN BY MY STAFF CAN BE APPRECIATED AS THEY DEAL WITH 130,000 CASES RECEIVING AID AND THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE UNDOUBTEDLY SATISIFIED WITH SERVICES RENDERED.+

MR. LEE NOTED THAT SOME HAD COMPLAINED AND WOULD CONTINUE TO DO SO, BUT IN FUTURE THEIR COMPLAINTS WOULD BE HEARD BY THE APPEAL BOARD.

HOWEVER, HE SAID, THE PROPOSED REGIONALISATION OF THE SOCIAL SELFARE DEPARTMENT WILL ERING FORE CLOSELY TOGETHER THOSE OFFICERS DEALING WITH CLIENTS' PERSONAL WELFARE PROELEMS AND THOSE WHO ADMINISTER CASH ASSISTANCE.

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+THIS. I AM SURE, WILL IMPROVE OUR APPROACH TO FAMILIES WHO REQUIRE MORE THAN ONE SERVICE FROM THE DEPARTMENT, HE SAID.

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