XN000022-1981-06-10 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 1981

10

FINANCING OF WELFARE SERVICES IN VOLUNTARY SECTOR ******

THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MRS ANSON CHAN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THE RECENT CLAIMS OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES BEING CURTAILED OR FORCED TO CLOSE DOWN BECAUSE OF INADEQUATE FUNDING WERE +EXAGGERATED AND UNSUBSTANTIATED+.

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT WAS AWARE OF NO VOLUNTARY AGENCY WHICH IS ON THE BRINK OF BANKRUPTCY+ OR AGENCIES PULLING OUT OF EXPANSION PROGRAMMES BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, MRS CHAN SAID.

SHE DESCRIBED THE CLAIMS AS AN ATTEMPT TO SPREAD DESPONDENCY AND ALARM AND SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE VERY CONCERNED IF THIS WERE THE CASE.

MRS CHAN WAS GIVING A TALK AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON WEST, IN WHICH SHE REVIEWED THE AGENCIES' ROLE IN WELFARE SERVICES PROVISION, THEIR TRADITION OF RAISING FUNDS, THE PRESENT SUBVENTION SYSTEM AND THE NEED FOR CHANGES.

SHE POINTED OUT THE DEPARTMENT HAS SO FAR RECEIVED ONLY 11 APPEALS ON THE 1981-82 SUBVENTION ALLOCATIONS OUT OF SOME 115 SUBVENTED AGENCIES, AND THESE CLAIM INADEQUATE SUPPORT IN SPECIFIC SERVICE AREAS ONLY.

+THESE APPEALS ARE BEING CONSIDERED WITH THE GREATEST CARE AND SUPPLEMENTARY GRANTS WILL BE RECOMMENDED WHERE JUST IF IED, SHE ADDED.

SHE STRESSED THAT THE DEPARTMENT IS FULLY PREPARED TO WORK TOGETHER WITH AGENCIES IN RESOLVING WHATEVER DIFFICULTIES THEY MAY FACE, BUT IT IS UP TO AGENCIES TO APPROACH THE DEPARTMENT IF THEY SO WISH.

REFERRING TO DONATIONS FOR AGENCIES, MRS CHAN SAID IT IS QUITE WRONG TO SUGGEST THAT DONORS' MONEY IS NOT HELPING THE LESS FORTUNATE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, OR THAT FOR EVERY DOLLAR RAISED BY AGENCIES, THE GOVERNMENT +SAVES+ ONE DOLLAR,

SHE EXPLAINED THAT, QUITE APART FROM DEFINED AREAS OF WELFARE SERVICES WHERE EFFORTS ARE CONCENTRATED, THERE ARE OTHER SERVICES WHICH CAN BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY ALTHOUGH THE GOVERNMENT IS UNABLE TO FINANCE THEM ALL.

HOWEVER, SHE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT HAS ENCOURAGED THE DESIGNATING OF DONATIONS SPECIFICALLY FOR SUCH SERVICES WHERE AGENCIES WISH TO PROVIDE THEM AND CAN SATISFY THE IR DONORS OF THEIR NEED AND CAPACITY.

+WHERE NO SUCH INTENTION IS EVIDENT, IT HAS BEEN THE ACCEPTED PRACTICE TO REGARD SUCH INCOME AS AVAILABLE TOWARDS THE SUPPORT OF WELFARE SERVICES, AND TO TAKE IT INTO ACCOUNT WHEN DETERMINING THE GOVERNMENT GRANT, SHE SAID.

MRS CHAN STRESSED THAT EACH YEAR, THE LEGISLATURE HAS VOTED INCREASING SUMS TO FINANCE WELFARE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR, HAVING REGARD TO EXISTING SERVICES AND PLANNED TARGETS.

/IF SOME