XN000022-1982-03-24 — Page 21

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1982

FOURTHLY, DR HO THOUGHT THE FOLLOWING SAFEGUARDS SHOULD BE EXERCISED IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF SERVICE STANDARDS:

* SET A MAXIMUM NUMBER OF UNIVERSITY GRADUATES WITHOUT

SOCIAL WORK TRAINING TO BE RECRUITED INTO THE ASWO RANK EACH YEAR SO THAT THE PROPORTION OF UNTRAINED SOCIAL WORKERS TO THE TOTAL NUMBER OF TRAINED ASWO'S IS SMALL ENOUGH TO MAKE CLOSE SUPERVISION PRACTICABLE :

* PROVIDE THEM WITH AN INDUCTION COURSE ON THE RUDIMENTARY

SOCIAL WORK PRINCIPLES, PRACTICES, SKILLS AND CASE STUDIES PRIOR TO THE IR ACTUAL POSTING, FOLLOWED BY A PART-TIME, DAY-RELEASE COURSE LEADING TO PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATION;

*

AND

ASSIGN THEM INITIALLY TO THOSE SOCIAL WORK POSTS WHICH DO NOT NORMALLY REQUIRE THE INCUMBENTS TO RENDER DIRECT, SPECIALIST SERVICES.

ON THE SUBJECT OF HOUSING, DR HO URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO EXTEND THE CONCEPT OF HOME OWNERSHIP TO THE FULL RANGE OF THE SANDWICHED CLASS +WHICH IS EXCLUDED FROM OTHER FORMS OF SUBSIDISED PUBLIC SERVICES AND BENEFITS AND IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED AND TREATED WITH MUCH LESS SYMPATHY+.

HE ARGUED THAT A CONTENTED, SETTLED MIDDLE-INCOME CLASS WOULD CONSTITUTE A STABILISING INFLUENCE IN THE COMMUNITY, AND COUNTERACT THE DRAIN OF PROFESSIONAL AND TECHNICAL EXPERTISE.

ONE OF THE MEASURES TO THIS END, HE SAID, IS TO PROVIDE TAX RELIEF FOR HOME MORTGAGE PAYMENTS FOR THOSE PURCHASERS OF FLATS IN THE PRIVATE PROPERTY MARKET.

HOWEVER, TO RESTRICT THE BENEFITS OF THE PROPOSED TAX RELIEF TO THE BONA FIDE MIDDLE-INCOME HOME BUYER, DR HO SAID THE BENEFICIARY'S HOUSEHOLD INCOME MUST BE BEYOND THE ELIGIBILITY LIMIT FOR HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME AND NOT EXCEED $13 000 A MONTH- HE MUST BE BUYING A NON-SUBSIDISED FLAT IN THE OPEN MARKET ON COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE FOR SELF-OCCUPATION- OWN NO OTHER PROPERTY- NEITHER THE BENEFICIARY NOR THE SPOUSE RECEIVES ANY FORMS OF HOUSING ASSISTANCE FROM THE IR EMPLOYERS- AND HE MUST BE A PERMANENT RESIDENT, OR HAVE LIVED IN HONG KONG FOR FIVE YEARS.

+DETAILED REGULATIONS CAN BE DRAWN UP LATER ONCE THE

GOVERNMENT AGREES TO THE PROPOSAL IN PRINCIPLE.

+ IN THE MEANTIME, I EARNESTLY URGE THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER THIS PROPOSED TAX RELIEF SCHEME IN THE CONTEXT OF USING 'TAXATION AS A SUPPLEMENTARY MEANS OF ACHIEVING OTHER POLICY ENDS',+ DR HO SAID.

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