XN000022-1981-06-24 — Page 8

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1981

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REVISED SUBVENTION SYSTEM PROPOSED

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THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES. THE HON E.P. HO TODAY (WEDNESDAY) OUTLINED A PROPOSED REVISED SUBVENTION SYSTEM WHICH SEEKS TO PROVIDE MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY AND FREEDOM OF ACTION FOR THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR.

SPEAKING AT THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON SOCIAL WELFARE SUBVENTION SYSTEM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR HO SAID THE NEW SYSTEM WOULD ALSO ENSURE THAT SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES WERE PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPROVED STANDARDS AND TARGETS AND THAT THERE WAS A DEGREE OF ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE PART OF THE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES COMMENSURATE WITH THE INCREASED LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT.

THE PROPOSED CHANGES, WHICH REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD IN HONG KONG'S SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES, ARE AS FOLLOWS:

(1) A RANKING ORDER SHOULD BE INTRODUCED

FOR FUNDING PURPOSES. SERVICES IN PRIORITY I WILL BE SUBVENTED IN FULL IN ACCORDANCE WITH STANDARD COSTS TO BE DETERMINED ON THE ADVICE OF THE RELEVANT ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

(2)

(3)

PRIORITY I WILL ATTRACT LESS THAN 100 PER CENT SUPPORT, SUCH SUPPORT TO VARY WITH DIFFERENT PROGRAMMES. HOWEVER AGENCIES PROVIDING SUCH SERVICES WILL BE NOT IF IED IN ADVANCE OF THE PRECISE LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT.

ALL INCOME RAISED BY VOLUNTARY AGENCIES THROUGH FUND RAISING ACTIVITIES, WHETHER UNDERTAKEN ON THE IR OWN, OR ON THE IR BEHALF BY THE COMMUNITY CHEST, OR FROM UNSOLICITED DONATIONS, WILL BE DISREGARDED FOR THE PURPOSE OF CALCULATING GOVERNMENT SUPPORT.

STANDARD COSTS WILL BE ASSESSED ON THE BASIS OF THE NUMBERS AND LEVELS OF STAFF REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A PARTICULAR SERVICE AND ON OTHER NECESSARY ITEMS OF EXPENDITURE SUCH AS FUEL, LIGHT, MINOR STAFF COST OR PROGRAMME EXPENSES. THESE COSTS WILL BE REVIEWED REGULARLY. HAVING DETERMINED THE STANDARD COSTS AND PROVIDED THE FUNDS, AGENCIES WILL HAVE MAXIMUM FREEDOM IN DEPLOYING THE RESOURCES TO THEIR BEST ADVANTAGE WITHIN BROAD GUIDELINES TO BE ADVISED BY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE. THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT SEEK TO CONTROL RIGIDLY THE INPUTS BUT WILL BE CONCERNED TO ENSURE THAT THE FUNDS ALLOCATED ARE EFFECTIVELY SPENT.

/(4) AGENCIES