XN000022-1982-02-09 — Page 3

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1982

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PROPOSALS FOR MORE SOCIAL WORKERS

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A GOVERNMENT WORKING PARTY WITH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS HAS MADE A NUMBER OF PROPOSALS TO INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF SOCIAL WORKERS.

THE WORKING PARTY ON SOCIAL WELFARE MANPOWER WAS APPOINTED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES IN FEBRUARY LAST YEAR TO SEEK BETTER USE OF TRAINED MANPOWER AND TO RECOMMEND WAYS TO MEET EXISTING AND FUTURE SHORTFALLS,

ACCORDING TO MANPOWER PROJECTIONS, THE ACCUMULATED SHORTFALL IF UNREMEDIED WOULD REACH 460 GRADUATE AND 265 NON-GRADUATE SOCIAL WORKERS BY 1982-83, AND WOULD INCREASE TO 930 AND 1 060 WORKERS RESPECTIVELY BY 1989-90.

IN ITS REPORT, THE WORKING PARTY RECOGNISED THAT THERE WAS NO QUICK OR EASY SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM: +THE EXPANSION OF DEMAND FOR SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES HAS ARISEN ON THE ONE HAND FROM THE VERY RAPID INCREASE IN POPULATION WHICH HAS TAKEN PLACE IN HONG KONG IN RECENT YEARS, AND ON THE OTHER FROM EFFORTS TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE STANDARDS OF SERVICE. THIS HAS INEVITABLY PRODUCED A SITUATION, WHICH IS NOT UNCOMMON

IN CERTAIN PROFESSIONAL FIELDS, WHERE THE DEMAND FOR TRAINED MANPOWER GREATLY EXCEEDS THE SUPPLY.+

THE WORKING PARTY BELIEVES THAT THE MEASURES IT IS NOW RECOMMENDING ARE JUSTIFIED AND SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE:

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INCREASED STUDENT INTAKE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALLOCATE SPECIAL EARMARKED GRANTS TO THE TWO UNIVERSITIES, THE POLYTECHNIC, BAPTIST COLLEGE AND SHUE YAN COLLEGE TO INCREASE THEIR SOCIAL WORK STUDENT INTAKE-

OPTIMUM USE OF PERSONNEL JOBS THAT DO NOT REQUIRE PROFESSIONAL EXPERTISE AND THOSE THAT CAN BE FILLED BY PERSONS QUALIFIED IN RELATED DISCIPLINES SHOULD BE IDENTIFIED AND FILLED ACCORDINGLY=

RECRUITMENT FROM OVERSEAS: CANTONESE-SPEAKING SOCIAL WORK STUDENTS OVERSEAS SHOULD BE ATTRACTED TO WORK IN HONG KONG AND GREATER USE MADE OF NON-CANTONESE SPEAKING PROFESSIONALS FOR ADMINISTRATIVE POSTS. THERE SHOULD ALSO BE IMPROVED ARRANGEMENTS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF TO RECEIVE OVERSEAS TRAINING=

* REDUCED OR PHASED EXPANSION OF SERVICES: IN IMPLEMENTING

PLANNED SOCIAL WELFARE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMMES, A MORE REALISTIC VIEW SHOULD BE TAKEN OF STAFF AVAILABILITY AND CONSIDERATION GIVEN TO RETAINING PRESENT STAFFING STANDARDS WHILE THE SHORTFALL EXISTS-

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