XN000022-1984-06-21 — Page 12

+

THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 198-

11

LOTTERIES FUND PROCEDURES TO BE IMPROVED

*****

THE GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING MEASURES TO IMPROVE PROCEDURAL DIFFICULTIES SURROUNDING THE LOTTERIES FUND AND REDUCE DELAYS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MR HENRY CHING, SAID TODAY.

+ I AM HOPEFUL THAT SOME MEANINGFUL CHANGES WILL SOON BE MADE, HE ADDED, WHEN OPENING THE HONG KONG FAMILY WELFARE SOCIETY'> SHUN LEE CENTRE.

HOWEVER, MR CHING POINTED OUT THAT CHANGES IN PROCEDURES AND REVISIONS OF POLICY WOULD NOT IN THEMSELVES BRING ABOUT THE DESIRED IMPROVEMENT IN RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR.

WHILE THERE WAS NO LACK OF GOOD INTENTIONS BETWEEN THE TWO PARTNERS, THE POSSIBLE ANSWER WAS A CONSCIOUS EFFORT TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND RESPECT.

MR CHING ADDED: +1 SPEAK OF ATTITUDES OF MIND. IT SHOULD BE SELF-EVIDENT THAT THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR HAS A POSITIVE ROLE TO PERFORM IN THE ACHIEVEMENT OF POLICY TARGETS AND AIMS. YET THE IDEA LINGERS OF A BENEVOLENT GOVERNMENT DOLING OUT ASSISTANCE TO NAUGHTY ORGANISATIONS, INTERESTED ONLY IN PURSUING THEIR OWN ENDS FOR THEIR OWN PURPOSES. AND WE ALL KNOW OF COURSE THAT NAUGHTY CHILDREN MUST BE DISCIPLINED AND BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL. +

THERE WAS A NEED FOR GREATER EFFORT TO BE MADE BUT, UNLESS ATTITUDES CHANGE, THERE WOULD BE LITTLE PROSPECT OF IMPROVEMENT IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE, HE SAID,

MR CHING SAID THAT THE CENTRE WAS AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT COULD BE ACHIEVED DESPITE PROCEDURAL DIFFICULTIES.

THE SOCIETY'S CONCERN FOR CHILDREN IN NEED OF SPECIAL CARE, AND THE RECENT EXTENSION OF ITS SERVICES TO INCLUDE THE SUPERVISION OF CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE, WAS A RELATIVELY NEW SERVICE WHICH THE GOVERNMENT WAS PARTICULARLY PLEASED TO SEE DEVELOPED.

+1 VALUE THE INPUT FROM THIS SOCIETY AND OTHERS WHICH HAVE COME FORWARD WITH SUGGESTIONS AND ADVICE ON THIS SUBJECT. NEW PROCEDURES HAVE ALREADY BEEN INTRODUCED, AND THE WORKING GROUP ON CHILD ABUSE WILL MEET AGAIN SHORTLY TO REVIEW THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS FOR HANDLING THESE UNFORTUNATE CASES, HE ADDED.