XN000022-1978-11-16 — Page 11

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1979

REGIONAL ISATION OF SWD WILL NOT AFFECT GOVERNMENT-VOLUNTARY SECTOR RELATIONSHIP

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THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, THE HON. THOMAS LEE, TODAY STRESSED THAT THE FORTHCOMING REGIONALISATION OF HIS DEPARTMENT WOULD NOT AFFECT THE EXISTING VALUABLE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.

REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS IN THE ANNUAL POLICY DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE SAID IT WOULD ONLY ENTAIL CHANGES IN THE DEPARTMENT'S OPERATIONAL SIDE, WHILE THE ADMINISTRATION OF SUBVENTIONS, AS WELL AS PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT, WOULD CONTINUE TO BE CENTRALISED IN ITS HEADQUARTERS.

MR. LEE SAID REGIONALISATION WAS ONLY ONE ASPECT OF A GENERAL RE-STRUCTURING OF THE DEPARTMENT AIMED AT IMPROVING ADMINISTRATIVE AND OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY.

AT PRESENT. HE SAID, THE OPERATIONAL ARM OF THE DEPARTMENT IS DIVIDED INTO SIX CENTRALISED DIVISIONS COVERING THE VARIOUS FIELDS OF SERVICES.

UPON REGIONALISATION FROM APRIL NEXT YEAR, RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAY-TO-DAY OPERATION IN ALL THESE FIELDS WILL BE DECENTRALISED TO 11 DISTRICT SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICERS WHO WILL BE RESPONSIBLE TO FOUR REGIONAL OFFICERS, HE SAID.

THE REGIONAL OFFICERS WILL LIAISE CLOSELY WITH THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES OPERATING IN THEIR REGIONS, WHILE THERE WILL BE STAFF IN EACH DISTRICT OFFICE SPECIFICALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR LIAISON AND EVALUATION WORK IN VARIOUS FIELDS, HE SAID.

WITH THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDING INCREASING SOCIAL WELFARE SUBVENTIONS EACH YEAR, MR. LEE SAID HIS DEPARTMENT IS RESPONS I BLE FOR ENSURING PROPER SPENDING OF THIS MONEY, AND PROCEDURES ALREADY EXIST FOR THE ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION OF SUBVENTED WELFARE SERVICES.

HE EXPLAINED THAT AS THE ADMINISTRATION OF SUBVENTIONS WILL NOT BE REGIONALISED, THE MAIN CHANGE IN THE FUTURE WILL BE THAT REPORTS MADE ON INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTARY CENTRES BY FIELD STAFF WILL BE CHANNELLED THROUGH REGIONAL OFFICERS RATHER THAN, AS NOW, THROUGH DIVISIONAL HEADS IN HEADQUARTERS.

+ IN OTHER WORDS, AFTER REGIONALISATION WE SHALL BE ABLE TO MONITOR MORE EFFECTIVELY THE USE THAT VOLUNTARY AGENCIES MAKE OF FUNDS THAT ARE PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT, BUT THERE IS NOTHING IN THE REGIONALISATION SCHEME ITSELF THAT WILL UNDERMINE THE VERY VALUABLE PARTNERSHIP THAT EXISTS AT PRESENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR, HE SAID.

ON THE BOUNDARIES FOR THE FOUR REGIONS AND 11 DISTRICTS, HE SAID THE DISTRICTS HAVE BEEN BASED ON THE ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICTS INTO WHICH URBAN AREAS AND THE NEW TERRITORIES ARE DIVIDED.

/PERJA