XN000022-1988-06-29 — Page 24

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1988

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"OFTEN THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED REQUIRE A WIDER RANGE OF SERVICES THAN OTHER DISABILITY GROUPS, HE SAID.

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"ALTHOUGH A COMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF SERVICES IS BEING PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR, THERE ARE STILL SIGNIFICANT SHORTFALLS IN THE SERVICES PROVIDED.

TO

"MOREOVER, THE PUBLIC ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED IS STILL GENERALLY POOR, AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES FIND IT DIFFICULT RAISE FUNDS.'

OF

MR WONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD DECIDED THAT THE NET PROFIT $30 MILLION ON THE SALE OF GOLD COINS TO COMMEMORATE THE VISIT OF HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN TO HONG KONG IN 1986, TOGETHER WITH A DONATION OF $30 MILLION FROM THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUR AND A FURTHER MATCHING CONTRIBUTION OF $30 MILLION FROM GENERAL REVENUE, MADE AVAILABLE TO THE FOUNDATION.

"APART FROM THE INITIAL PAYMENT OF $60 MILLION SPECIAL COIN SUSPENSE ACCOUNT AND GENERAL REVENUE, THE BILL MINOR IMP1ICATIONS FOR PUBLIC SERVICE STAFFING AND FINANCE,'

SHOULD BE

FROM THE HAS ONLY HE SAID.

IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION WOULD LIAISE CLOSELY WITH THE REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE TO ENSURE THAT THERE WOULD BE NO OVERLAP BETWEEN WHAT WAS FUNDED FROM GENERAL REVENUE IN IMPLEMENTING THE REHABILITATION PROGRAMME PLAN AND THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FOUNDATION.

THE BILL PROVIDED THAT THE MANAGEMENT OF THE FOUNDATION WOULD

BE VESTED IN A COUNCIL APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

"THERE WILL BE A CHAIRMAN, A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE COMMISSIONER FOR REHABILITATION AND FIVE TO NINE OTHER MEMBERS, MR WONG SAID.

·

MEANINGFUL

TO IN

TO GIVE THE FOUNDATION THE FLEXIBILITY TO UNDERTAKE PROJECTS FROM THE BEGINNING, THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE THE DISCRETION SPEND UP TO TEN PER CENT OF THE ORIGINAL CAPITAL OF THE FOUNDATION ADDITION TO ITS INCOME.

THE COUNCIL WOULD ALSO BE EMPOWERED то APPOINT ADVISORY COMMITTEES, ASSISTANTS AND MANAGERS OF THE ASSETS AND ΤΟ PAY FOR VARIOUS NECESSARY EXPENSES.

THE BILL ALSO PROVIDED FOR THE ACCOUNTS OF THE FOUNDATION BE AUDITED BY THE DIRECTOR OF AUDIT AND TABLED IN THE COUNCIL EVERY YEAR.

MOREOVER, THE BILL ENABLED THE COSTS INCURRED BY GOVERNMENT IN PROVIDING ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES FOR THE FOUNDATION BE CHARGED TO GENERAL REVENUE.

THE TO

"THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY MAY DIRECT THAT AN ANNUAL FEE NOT EXCEEDING 2.5 PER CENT OF THE FOUNDATION'S INCOME IN THAT YEAR BE CHARGED IN RETURN," HE SAID.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

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