XN000022-1979-11-14 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1979

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MR. JONES SAID IT WAS ALSO PROBABLE THAT THE WORK OF THE EPU WOULD LEAD TO MORE ECONOMICAL MEANS OF CARRYING OUT CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTAL FUNCTIONS FOR WHICH THE GOVERNMENT WAS RESPONSIBLE.

+AS A WATCHDOG OVER ALL THIS ACTIVITY, THE EPCOM HAS RECENTLY BEEN STRENGTHENED AND INDUSTRIAL REPRESENTATIVES HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE COMMITTEE, HE SAID.

+SPECIAL COMMITTEES ARE ALSO NOW BEING APPOINTED UNDER THE MAIN COMMITTEE TO HELP KEEP UNDER REVIEW ALL THE MAJOR ASPECTS OF POLLUTION, HE ADDED.

GOVERNMENT TO SET UP WORKING PARTY

TO STUDY SOCIAL WELFARE MANPOWER

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THE GOVERNMENT WILL SET UP A WORKING PARTY TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE MANPOWER SITUATION IN THE SOCIAL WELFARE FIELD, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, THE HON. THOMAS LEE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO POINTS RAISED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS IN THE ANNUAL DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR. LEE SAID THE AIM WOULD BE TO DEVISE A LONGER TERM STRATEGY IN PROVIDING MORE TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS.

THE WORKING PARTY WILL QUANTIFY AS ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE THE PRESENT MANPOWER SHORTAGE, THE EXTRA DEMANDS OVER THE NEXT DECADE, AND THE NUMBER OF TRAINED STAFF TO BE PROVIDED BY VARIOUS MEANS, HE SAID.

MR. LEE POINTED OUT THAT IN SPITE OF THE EFFORTS WHICH HAD BEEN MADE, THE SUPPLY OF TRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS WAS AND WOULD CONTINUE TO BE LIMITED.

HOWEVER, HE STRESSED THAT THE EXERCISE MUST BE CARRIED OUT TO BOOST TRAINED MANPOWER AND ALL OTHER POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES MUST BE LOOKED INTO.

+ IF WE ARE TO MEET THE INCREASING DEMANDS FOR SOCIAL WORK SERVICES ARISING FROM THE GROWING EXPECTATION OF OUR SOCIETY, WE MUST BE PREPARED TO CONSIDER ALL POSSIBILITIES, EVEN IF THEY ARE LESS THAN IDEAL.

+THE TIME WILL SOON COME WHEN WE MUST CONSCIENTIOUSLY CHOOSE BETWEEN ACCEPTING THE LESS IDEAL AND DELAYING OR FOREGOING PROJECTS OR SERVICES WHICH HAVE BEEN ON OUR PLAN TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY. HE SAID.

MR. LEE SAID THERE WERE THREE MAIN WAYS TO BOOST TRAINED MANPOWER AND STEPS HAD ALREADY BEEN TAKEN IN THESE DIRECTIONS.

THE FIRST, HE SAID, IS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS BEING TRAINED, AND THERE HAVE BEEN INCREASES IN INTAKES OVER THE PAST YEARS IN VARIOUS TRAINING INSTITUTIONS.

/HE SAID