XN000022-1987-11-05 — Page 25

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1987

SHE NOTED THAT THE PROPOSED NEW MEASURE EXTENDED THE ALLOWANCE TO THOSE AGED 65 BUT NEW APPLICANTS WOULD BE REQUIRED то DECLARE THAT THEIR INCOME AND ASSETS DID NOT EXCEED A CERTAIN LIMIT.

"FROM THE WELFARE POINT OF VIEW, SUCH A REQUIREMENT IS CERTAINLY A RETROGRESSIVE MEASURE, SHE SAID.

t

SHE SAID THAT ANOTHER, MORE CRUCIAL PROBLEM WAS THAT EVEN IF AN "INCOME-BASED" APPROACH WAS ADOPTED IN PROCESSING THE APPLICATIONS, THE EXPENDITURE ON SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAMMES WOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED IN FUTURE WHEN THE OLD AGE ALLOWANCE WAS EXTENDED IN AND THE PROPORTION OF OLD PEOPLE IN OUR POPULATION INCREASED.

STAGES

ACCORDING TO ESTIMATES PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT, THIS PHASED- RASIS EXTENSION WOULD INCUR AN ADDITIONAL EXPENDITURE OF OVER $500 MILLION IN THE FIRST YEAR OF ITS FULL IMPLEMENTION. CONSEQUENTLY, THE ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES FOR SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES AS A WHOLE WOULD BE AFFECTED.

"WITH A SIGNIFICANT GROWTH IN THE EXPENDITURE ON SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAMMES, THE PROVISION OF OTHER IMPORTANT WELFARE SERVICES SUCH AS FAMILY AND YOUTH SERVICES AND SERVICES FOR THE HANDICAPPED WILL RE GREATLY HAMPERED IF THE GOVERNMENT'S TOTAL EXPENDITURE ON WELFARE SERVICES IS NOT CORRESPONDINGLY RAISED," SHE

SAID.

MRA TAM ALSO URGED

THE GOVERNMENT ΤΟ GIVE CAREFUL CONSIDERATION TO THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS FOR WELFARE SERVICES BY TAXING INTO ACCOUNT THE NEEDS IN ALL OTHER SERVICES AND THE ADEQUACY OF RESOURCES AVAILAHLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF VARIOUS KINDS OF

SERVICES.

AT

SHE PROPOSED THAT THE EXPENDITURE ON "SOCIAL SECURITY", PRESENT UNDER THE HEAD OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES, SHOULD BE SEPARATED FROM THE LATTER ΤΟ BECOME AN INDEPENDENT HEAD OF EXPENDITURE.

"THE AUTHORITIES CONCERNED AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC THEN WILL HAVE A CLEARER PICTURE OF THE ANNUAL EXPENSES ON SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES, SHE SAID.

TURNING TO POLICY ON YOUTH, MRS TAM SAID THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WERE IN FACT CONFRONTED BY A LOT OF PROBLEM AND THEY NEEDED COMMUNITY SUPPORT.

"THE INCREASING SERIOUSNESS OF JUVENILE DELINQUENCY, THE AGGRAVATING STATE OF DRUG ABUSE, PARTICULARLY THAT OF SOFT DRUGS, AND THE CONTINUOUS INVOLVEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN TRIAD ACTIVITIES ARE SIGNIFICANT INDICATORS, SHE SAID.

"

SHE SAID THAT HONG KONG WAS AT A CRITICAL HISTORICAL PERIOD LEADING TO ITS POLITICAL HANDOVER. THE COMMUNITY HAD HIGH HOPES THE YOUNG PROPLE WHO WOULD BE THE MASTERS OF FUTURE SOCIETY.

FOR

/"TO PREPARE