XN000022-1987-01-14 — Page 43

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1987

+ THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE IMPLEMENTATION AND FULL YEAR COSTS GIVEN IN 1983 AROSE BECAUSE, AT THAT TIME, ADJUSTMENTS TO TAX THRESHOLDS APPLIED NOT ONLY TO THE FORTHCOMING FISCAL YEAR, BUT ALSO TO FINAL TAX LIABILITIES FOR THE THEN CURRENT YEAR.

+ IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT SINCE 1985 SUCH ADJUSTMENTS HAVE APPLIED ONLY TO THE FORTHCOMING FISCAL YEAR. THERE WOULD NOW BE NO REVENUE LOSS DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE IMPLEMENTATION AND FULL YEAR COSTS,+ HE ADDED.

THA RESIDENTS ENCOURAGED TO USE WELFARE SERVICES

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IN VIEW OF THE TRANSIENT NATURE OF TEMPORARY HOUSING ARE A (THA'S) AND THE RELATIVELY SMALL NUMBER OF RESIDENTS, IT IS NOT POLICY TO PROVIDE WELFARE SERVICES SPECIFICALLY TO CATER FOR THESE AREAS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ROSANNA TAM, MR CHAMBERS SAID THE PROVISION OF WELFARE SERVICES WAS PLANNED ON A TERRITORY-WIDE BASIS, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT POPULATION AND GEOGRAPHICAL FACTORS.

HOWEVER, THA RESIDENTS WERE ENCOURAGED TO MAKE USE OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED WELFARE AGENCIES IN THE VICINITY, HE SAID.

+1N CASES WHERE A THA IS ISOLATED AND WELFARE FACILITIES ARE NOT READILY AVAILABLE, THE NEED FOR SUCH SERVICES IS CONSIDERED AFTER TAKING INTO ACCOUNT FACTORS SUCH AS THE LOCATION, SIZE OF POPULATION AND LENGTH OF TENURE OF THE THA AND NEIGHBOURHOOD-LEVEL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS ARE SET WHEN THIS IS JUSTIFIED,+ HE SAID.

MR CHAMBERS NOTED THAT THE PROJECTS PROVIDED A RANGE OF SERVICES, WHICH INCLUDED SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND PROMOTION OF SELF-HELP AMONG RESIDENTS.

+AT PRESENT 20 OUT OF 50 THA'S ARE SERVED BY PROJECTS OF THIS TYPE, HE ADDED.

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