XN000022-1979-06-08 — Page 2

FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 1979

GOVT TO STUDY SOCIAL WELFARE MANPOWER SURVEY REPORT

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THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS. ANSON CHAN. SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER CAREFULLY THE REPORT ON THE RECENTLY-COMPLETED SOCIAL WELFARE MANPOWER SURVEY.

SHE SAID THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON SOCIAL WORK TRAINING WOULD FIND THE INFORMATION INVALUABLE IN ASSESSING AND ADVISING THE GOVERNMENT ON TRAINING NEEDS.

MRS. CHAN WAS GIVING A TALK AT A WORKSHOP OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE IN WHICH SHE DISCUSSED THE 1979 WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL WELFARE AND EXAMINED ITS IMPLICATIONS ON FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

SHE SAID THE SURVEY INDICATES AN EXISTING SHORTFALL OF ABOUT 475 TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS, BUT THIS ALREADY TAKES INTO ACCOUNT THE REQUIREMENTS ARISING OUT OF THE VARIOUS GREEN PAPERS FROM WHICH THE WHITE PAPER IS DERIVED.

IN THE CONTEXT OF THE RECENT REVIEW OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE FIVE-YEAR DEVELOPMENT PLAN, SHE SAID, VARIOUS REMEDIES WERE CONSIDERED, AND THESE INCLUDED INCREASING FROM ABOUT 10 TO 40 PER CENT THE NUMBER OF SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS IN TRAINING INSTITUTIONS AS FROM THE 1979-80 ACADEMIC YEAR.

OTHER MAJOR MEASURES, SHE ADDED, ARE TO MAKE MORE ECONOMIC USE OF TRAINED MANPOWER AND TO IMPROVE THE CONDITIONS OF SERVICE THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE WELFARE CLASS REVIEW, TO MAKE GREATER USE OF PART-TIME TRAINED WORKERS AND TO PROVIDE IN-SERVICE TRAINING TO PRODUCE MORE PROFESSIONAL WORKERS.

ON FEE CHARGING FOR WELFARE SERVICES, MRS. CHAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS FORMULATING GUIDELINES AND EXAMINING THE LEVEL OF FEES IN SPECIFIC SERVICE AREAS WHICH WOULD BE DISCUSSED WITH THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR SHORTLY.

*WITH IMPROVED LIVING CONDITIONS, GREATER AFFLUENCE AMONGST THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE AND IMPROVED SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS, IT SEEMS OPPORTUNE TO CONSIDER LEVYING SOME CHARGES FOR SERVICES PROVIDED, TO BE PAID FOR BY THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD IT,+ SHE SAID.

FOR THE TIME BEING, SHE SAID, WHILE THE MAJORITY OF WELFARE SERVICES ARE STILL INADEQUATE TO MEET FULL DEMAND, PRIORITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THOSE IN THE LOW INCOME GROUP.

HOWEVER, SHE POINTED OUT THAT AS VOLUNTARY AGENCIES MOVED AWAY FROM THE CONCEPT OF CHARITABLE HANDOUTS, THEY SHOULD ALSO RE-APPRAISE THE IR ROLE IN PROVIDING DIRECT SERVICES.

+AS THE GAP BETWEEN SUPPLY AND DEMAND NARROWS. I BELIEVE THAT VOLUNTARY AGENCIES SHOULD NO LONGER RESTRICT THEMSELVES TO CATERING ONLY FOR THE LOW INCOME GROUP, BUT SHOULD ALSO EMBRACE MORE AFFLUENT CLIENTS WHO NEED A PARTICULAR SERVICE BUT WHO ARE GENERALLY ABLE TO MEET A REASONABLE FEE,+ SHE SAID.

IN THIS WAY,