XN000022-1978-04-28 — Page 2

FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 1978

GOVERNOR SAYS HONG KONG'S FUTURE IS VERY BRIGHT

*****

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID THERE IS A VERY BRIGHT FUTURE AHEAD FOR HONG KONG DURING A RECEPTION AT THE HONG KONG STUDENTS CENTRE IN LONDON LAST WEDNESDAY (APRIL 26).

SPEAKING TO GROUPS OF CHINESE STUDENTS AT THE CENTRE, SIR MURRAY SAID THAT HONG KONG NEEDED PROFESSIONALLY QUALIFIED PEOPLE FOR ITS FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

SIR MURRAY ALSO OUTLINED SOME OF THE MEASURES INTRODUCED IN HONG KONG TO IMPROVE CONDITIONS PARTICULARLY IN THE FIELD OF WELFARE SERVICES.

SIR MURRAY SPENT NEARLY TWO HOURS AT THE STUDENTS CENTRE DURING WHICH HE ALSO ANSWERED QUESTIONS RAISED BY THE STUDENTS. THE QUERIES INCLUDED THOSE ON HONG KONG'S FUTURE, JOB PROSPECTS AND THE STEPS THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING TO TACKLE VARIOUS PROBLEMS IN THE TERRITORY,

THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER IN LONDON, MR. DENIS BRAY, THE WARDEN OF THE STUDENTS CENTRE, MR. RAY IRVINE- AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE STUDENTS MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE AT THE CENTRE, MR. F.C. CHAN ALSO ATTENDED THE RECEPTION.

SOCIAL SECURITY APPEAL BOARD MEMBERS APPOINTED

****

THREE LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS HAVE BEEN APPOINTED TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY APPEAL BOARD WHICH IS TO PROVIDE A SPEEDY MEANS OF REDRESS FOR ANYONE DISSATISFIED WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S DECISIONS ON THE ELIGIBILITY AND PAYMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS.

APPOINTED AS CHAIRMAN OF THE APPEAL BOARD 15 MRS. MAXINE KWOK, A HOSPITAL DIRECTOR, AND AS MEMBERS ARE MADAM POW SHUT-PING, A NURSERY SUPERVISOR, AND MR. VICTOR FUNG KWOK-KING, A PROMINENT BUSINESSMAN.

THEIR APPOINTMENT. PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY, HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR FOR A PERIOD OF ONE YEAR.

THE BOARD'S TERMS OF REFERENCE ARE TO CONSIDER INDIVIDUAL APPEALS AGAINST THE DECISIONS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT ON ELIGIBILITY AND PAYMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS, AND TO PUBLISH A REPORT ANNUALLY ON THE WORK OF THE BOARD.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY ARRANGEMENTS WERE BEING MADE FOR THE APPEAL BOARD TO OPERATE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND DETAILS OF THE APPEAL SYSTEM WOULD BE ANNOUNCED BEFORE ITS OPERATION.

THE SPOKESMAN