XN000022-1980-10-08 — Page 10

9

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1980

ARCHITECT OF HK'S MODERN SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEM

****

THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DESCRIBED THE RETIRING DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR THOMAS LEE, AS THE ARCHITECT OF THE MODERN SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEM IN HONG KONG.

SIR MURRAY PARTICULARLY NOTED THAT THE INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL WORK TRAINING WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1973 UNDER THE AEGIS OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT. THIS MARKED A MILESTONE IN THE EVOLUTION OF SOCIAL WORK TRAINING IN HONG KONG AND OWED MUCH TO THE PERSONAL DEDICATION AND IMAGINATIVE APPROACH TO PROBLEMS BY MR LEE.

MR LEE WOULD BE RETIRING AFTER FOUR YEARS MEMBERSHIP OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AND 28 YEARS' SERVICE WITH THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, THE LAST SIX AS DIRECTOR.

SIR MURRAY COMMENDED MR LEE FOR HIS ASSOCIATION WITH MANY OF THE SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN SOCIAL SECURITY AND SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES, NOTABLY IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FAMILY SERVICE CENTRES, THE INTRODUCTION OF THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME, THE SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE SCHEME, AND THE COMMUNITY AND YOUTH OFFICER SCHEME.

AS A PLANNER, SIR MURRAY SAID, MR LEE WOULD BE PARTICULARLY REMEMBERED FOR HIS WORK IN INTRODUCING THE REGIONALISATION OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES.

+1 AM SURE ALL MEMBERS WILL JOIN ME IN THANKING MR LEE FOR ALL HIS VALUABLE SERVICE TO HONG KONG, AND IN WISHING HIM AND HIS WIFE A LONG AND HAPPY RETIREMENT, THE GOVERNOR ADDED.

UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE COUNCIL, THE HON ROGER LOBO SPOKE TO ASSOCIATE THE UNOFFICIALS WITH THE TRIBUTE THE GOVERNOR PAID TO MR LEE.

BILL TO INCORPORATE EVIDENCE (HEARSAY) RULES

IN RULES OF SUPREME COURT

*****

RULES RELATING TO HEARSAY AND EXPERT EVIDENCE APPEAR IN THE ENGLISH RULES OF THE SUPREME COURT AS PRACTISED IN ENGLAND THE LAW DRAFTSMAN, THE HON G.P. NAZARETH, SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.

+THE CHIEF JUSTICE HAS PROPOSED THAT A SIMILAR PRACTICE BE ADOPTED HERE,+ MR NAZARETH SAID IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE EVIDENCE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980.

HE SAID IT WAS CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE THAT THE HONG KONG RULES ON HEARSAY EVIDENCE, BASED ON THEIR ENGLISH COUNTERPARTS, SHOULD APPEAR IN THE RULES OF THE SUPREME COURT OF THE SUPREME COURT ORDINANCE.

/THIS, MR

Page 10Page 11