XN000022-1983-03-19 — Page 9

4

!

!

The Government is responsible for directing and coordinating the development of social welfare services. It provides certain social welfare services itself. For their part, the voluntary agencies, which have a proud record of community service, have long been involved in providing essential basic services, and they have done this to a greater extent than in many other communities. In Hong Kong's circumstances, there is an important role for a vigorous, progressive and responsible voluntary sector, working in close cooperation with the Government.

The Our social security scheme is essentially a simple one. mainstay is the public assistance scheme which is primarily an income- maintenance scheme to ensure that individuals and families do not live

below a certain basic standard.

Services for the elderly are geared to promoting the well-being of those who have passed their 60th birthday by providing services that will enable them to retain their self-respect and, where necessary, residential care suited to their various needs. One recent development has been a scheme to purchase flats in private housing developments to accommodate able-bodied elderly people who do not require daily care or

attention.

Education

We have been equally busy in the educational field in Hong Kong. After World War II, our school system was in ruins and had to be entirely rebuilt. Our first aim was to ensure primary education for

all. By 1971, we had provided places for all children of primary

school age free of charge in purpose-built schoels and with trained

teachers.

Since then priority has been given to secondary education, with the result that we now provide free junior secondary education for all children up to the age of 15. We have, in addition, markedly increased the provision of senior secondary education, Nor have we neglected the needs of disabled children.. By providing schools with additional staff and facilities, we aim to integrate these children into normal schools. Furthermore, we have built technical institutes which provide technical education on a part and full-time basis, both at the craft and the technician level. For some of you who come from countries where free primary and secondary education is taken for

/granted that