XN000022-1980-02-27 — Page 24

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1980

SIR PHILIP SAID SUFFICIENT FUNDS HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO IMPLEMENT PROPOSALS SET OUT IN THE WHITE PAPER TO MEET TARGET SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY AND YOUNG.

IMPROVEMENT IN IN-SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY WILL INCLUDE 22 ADDITIONAL HOME HELPERS, 250 HOSTEL PLACES AND 40 PLACES IN CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES, AND THE SETTING UP OF ONE MORE HOME FOR THE AGED, TWO MULTI-SERVICE CENTRES AND 20 SOCIAL CENTRES.

FOR THE YOUNG, FAMILY LIFE EDUCATION WILL BE EXPANDED, TWO ADDITIONAL OUT-REACHING SOCIAL WORK TEAMS WILL BE SET UP AND 27 MORE PROFESSIONAL SOCIAL WORKERS FOR SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK WILL BE PROVIDED.

ADDITIONAL ANNUALLY RECURRENT EXPENDITURE ARISING FROM IMPLEMENTATION IN 1980-81 ONWARDS OF THE WHITE PAPER PROPOSALS FOR IMPROVEMENTS AND EXPANSION OF SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEMES AND OF SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY AND YOUNG IS ESTIMATED TO BE $73 MILLION BY 1984-85.

DURING THE SAME FIVE-YEAR PERIOD FROM 1980-81 TO 1984-85, CAPITAL EXPENDITURE, INCLUDING DISBURSEMENTS FROM THE LOTTER IÉS FUND, WILL TOTAL $189 MILLION AT 1979 PRICES.

A MAJOR PORTION OF INCREASED RECURRENT EXPENDITURE WILL BE CHANNELLED THROUGH SOCIAL WELFARE SUBVENTIONS. THE AMOUNT, AT $145 MILLION, REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF 24 PER CENT COMPARED WITH THE APPROVED PROVISION OF $114 MILLION FOR 1979-80. THE BULK WILL BE DISBURSED, ON THE ADVICE OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, IN THE FORM OF DISCRETIONARY GRANTS TO VOLUNTARY AGENCIES.

MORE HOSPITAL BEDS TO BE PROVIDED *****

AN ADDITIONAL 1 672 HOSPITAL BEDS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE IN GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS DURING THE COM ING FINANCIAL YEAR, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR PHILIP HADDON-CAVE SAID WHEN HE OUTLINED PROPOSED SPENDING ON MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES IN THE BUDGET.

TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON THESE SERVICES WILL BE $1 491 MILLION, REPRESENTING 8.3 PER CENT OF TOTAL EXPENDITURE IN 1980-81.

NEXT YEAR, THREE NEW GOVERNMENT CLINICS ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED, TOGETHER WITH A NEW DEPARTMENTAL LAUNDRY. PROVISION IS ALSO MADE FOR STAFF FOR THE COMMISSIONING OF THE NEW SHATIN HOSPITAL.

IN SUBVENTED HOSPITALS, SEVERAL MAJOR PROJECTS ARE UNDERWAY A CARDIAC THORACIC CENTRE AT GRANTHAM HOSPITAL, EXTENSIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE WONG TAI SIN INFIRMARY, THE CARITAS MEDICAL CENTRE AND THE YAN CHAI AND POK OF HOSPITALS, AND A NEW PATHOLOGY BUILDING AT KWONG WAH DUE TO OPEN IN LATE 1980.

THE LARGE