XN000022-1981-12-23 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY

EMBER 23, 1071

JOBS FOR THE DISABLED

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THERE WERE 878 DISABLED PERSONS EMPLOYED BY THE GOVERNMENT ON APRIL 1 THIS YEAR COMPARED WITH 683 PERSONS A YEAR EARLIER, AN INCREASE OF 195 PERSONS OR 28.2 PER CENT, THE SECRETARY FOP SOCIAL SERVICES, THE HON E.P. HO, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON K.C. CHAN, MR HO SAID THAT SIMILAR INFORMATION WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE SUBVENTED ORGANISATIONS AS IT WOULD NOT BE FEASIBLE TO MOUNT A SURVEY TO OBTAIN SUCH INFORMATION FROM OVER 1 400 SUBVENTED AGENCIES OR UNITS IN THE EDUCATION, SOCIAL WELFARE AND MEDICAL FIELDS ALC E.

MR HO SAID, THE GOVERNMENT WISHES TO ENCOURAGE ALL EMPLOYERS. BIG AND SMALL AND WHETHER CONTRACTORS TO THE GOVERNMENT OR NOT, TO EMPLOY MORE DISABLED PERSONS.+

AS REGARDS FOSTERING THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE DISABLED, MR HO SAID THAT THE GOVERNMENT AIMS TO PROVIDE SUCH COMPREHENSIVE REHABILITATION SERVICES TO ENABLE DISABLED PERSONS TO DEVELOP THE IR PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SOCIAL CAPABILITIES T. THE FULLEST.

SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS APPROVED ****

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PASSED A MOTION APPROVING SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS AMOUNTING TO $894 MILLION FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF THE CURRENT FINANCIAL YEAR.

MOVING THE MOTION, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID THAT THE MAJOR ITEMS INCLUDE $473 MILLION FOR EXPENDITURE ON PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS INCLUDING PROVISION FOR 26 PROJECTS UPGRADED TO OR INCLUDED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN CATEGORY A OF THE PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAMME.

OTHER ITEMS INCLUDE $130 MILLION FOR PAYMENTS TO OPERATORS ARISING FROM THE STUDENT TRAVEL SCHEME, $100 MILLION FOR TAXES AND DUTIES PAYABLE AS A RESULT OF THE FORMATION OF THE HONG KONG SUBSIDIARY OF CABLE AND WIRELESS LIMITED, $54 MILLION FOR REPAYMENT OF THE OUTSTANDING LOAN FOR THE DESALTING PLANT UNDER THE LOANS (ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK) ORDINANCE, AND $17 MILLION FOR PAYMENTS OF HOME PURCHASE ALLOWANCE FOR CIVIL SERVANTS.

MR BREMRIDGE SAID THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION RESULTED IN A NET INCREASE OF $100 MILLION IN THE EXPENDITURE APPROVED FOR THE YEAR, THE REMAINDER BEING OFFSET UNDER OTHER HEADS OF EXPENDITURE AND BY THE FREEZING OF FUNDS UNDER THE TWO ADDITIONAL COMMITMENTS VOTES.

+THE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED ALL THE ITEMS IN THE SCHEDULE, HE SAID, ADDING THAT THE PURPOSE OF THIS MOTION SIMPLY TO SEEK THE COVERING AUTHORITY OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

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