XN000022-1984-04-25 — Page 20

EDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 1984

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COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME STRESSED

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THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME AND RELATED SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE SHOULD REMAIN THE CENTRAL PILLAR OF HONG KONG'S SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON HENRY CHING, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE, MR CHING SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS FULLY COMMITTED TO PROVIDING THE RESOURCES NECESSARY FOR THIS PURPOSE AND THAT THIS WAS REFLECTED IN THE DRAFT ESTIMATES WHICH SHOWED A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN PROVISION FOR PAYMENTS OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND SPECIAL NEEDS ALLOWANCE.

HE ASSURED THE COUNCIL THAT THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME WAS DESIGNED SO THAT THE INCENTIVE TO WORK WAS NOT ERODED AND SO THAT HELP WAS DIRECTED TOWARDS THOSE MOST IN NEED.

+THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT THE LEVELS OF PUBLIC ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS ARE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO DEPEND ON SOCIAL SECURITY=

INDEED THE GREAT MAJORITY OF RECIPIENTS ARE ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED.+

ON THE NEED TO MAINTAIN A BALANCE BETWEEN SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL SECURITY, MR CHING POINTED OUT THAT ESTIMATED EXPENDITURE IN 1984-85 ON RELIEF AND WELFARE PAYMENTS, ON THE ONE HAND, AND ON ALL OTHER RECURRENT EXPENDITURE BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DÉPARTMENT,

INCLUDING SUBVENTIONS, ON THE OTHER, IN EACH CASE REFLECTED AN INCREASE OF ABOUT 26 PER CENT PER ANNUM SINCE 1980-81.

A BALANCE IS THEREFORE BEING MAINTAINED, HE SAID.

+THESE TWO ELEMENTS OF OUR PROGRAMMES ARE COMPLEMENTARY TO EACH OTHER, AND THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE BOTH THE QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF SOCIAL WORK SERVICES AS FAR AS RESOURCES PERMIT.+

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF OUTPATIENT CLINICS HOLDING SESSIONS IN THE EVENINGS AND HOLIDAYS FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF WORKERS, MR CHING POINTED OUT THAT THE PURPOSE OF SUCH SESSIONS WAS BASICALLY TO RELIEVE PRESSURE ON DAY SESSIONS AND ON THE ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS.

+WITHIN LIMITED RESOURCES, IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE TO EXPAND EVENING AND HOLIDAY SESSIONS PURELY ON THE GROUNDS OF CONVENIENCE, WITHOUT UNDULY AFFECTING THE SERVICES PROVIDED DURING DAY SESSIONS, +

HE SAID.

IN REPLY TO A CLAIM THAT GOVERNMENT SUBVENTED HOSPITALS GOT LESS FUNDING THAN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS OF THE SAME NATURE, MR CHING POINTED OUT THAT THE AVERAGE STAY OF A PATIENT IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS TENDED TO BE SHORTER THAN IN SIMILAR SUBVENTED HOSPITALS.

+A SUBVENTED HOSPITAL, THEREFORE, WHICH GETS LESS FUNDING PER BED THAN A GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL MAY WELL BE GETTING MORE FUNDING PER PATIENT TREATED.

/+.AD IZ

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