XN000022-1989-09-25 — Page 3

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1989

EFFORTS MADE TO IMPROVE SOCIAL SERVICE QUALITY

SOCIAL WORKERS AND ADMINISTRATORS OF SOCIAL WELFARE AGENCIES MUST MAKE THE BEST USE OF THEIR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS IN THE AREAS OF

то SERVICE PLANNING, CO-ORDINATION AND EVALUATION SO AS

THAT ENSURE SERVICE DELIVERY MEETS THE NEEDS OF THE TARGET CLIENT GROUPS.

THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MR T.H. CHAU, SAID THIS TODAY (MONDAY) WHILE OFFICIATING AT A GRADUATION CEREMONY OF THE DIPLOMA COURSE IN MANAGEMENT (SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES) RUN BY THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE AND THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG,

COMMUNITY ORGANISATIONS

MR CHAU SAID THAT BOTH GOVERNMENT AND WERE MAKING EVERY EFFORT TO RAISE THE QUALITY OF SOCIAL MEET THE INCREASING COMMUNITY DEMANDS.

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"THE GOVERNMENT'S FINANCIAL SUPPORT, IN THE FORM OF SUBVENTION TO SOCIAL WELFARE AGENCIES, HAS ALSO INCREASED SUBSTANTIALLY IN LAST FEW YEARS, FROM $625 MILLION IN 1987-88 TO $933 MILLION IN CURRENT YEAR," HE SAID.

"THE INCREASE IN PUNDING AND WELFARE SERVICES HAS BROUGHT CORRESPONDING EXPANSION IN THE SIZE OF VOLUNTARY WELFARE AGENCIES.

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"AT PRESENT, THERE ARE 159 WELFARE AGENCIES RECEIVING GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION AND THERE ARE A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 1,400 SUBVENTED SERVICE UNITS EMPLOYING OVER 12,000 SUBVENTED STAFF.

"AMONGST THE SUBVENTED AGENCIES, 33 OF THEM HAVE MORE THAN 100 STAFF, AND OF THESE 33, 10 HAVE MORE THAN 300 STAFF ON THEIR PAYROLL.

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MR CHAU POINTED OUT THAT JUST BY LOOKING AT THE SIZE OF SOMB OF THESE AGENCIES AND THE COMPLEXITY OF THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDED, THE NEED FOR PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT WAS OBVIOUS,

**IN TERMS OF STAFF MANAGEMENT, FINANCIAL PLANNING, DECISION MAKING AND LEADERSHIP, THESE AGENCIES ARE PERHAPS NOT DISSIMILAR TO CORPORATIONS IN THE COMMERCIAL SECTOR, WHERE PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT TOOLS ARE EXTENSIVELY USED TO SOLVE PROBLEMS, HE SAID.

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MR CHAU SAID THE PROFESSIONAL TRAINING PROVIDED BY THE COUNCIL'S DIPLOMA COURSE WOULD ENABLE THE "MANAGERS" OF WELFARE AGENCIES TO DESIGN AND IMPLEMENT SERVICES BEST SUITED TO THE NEEDS THE COMMUNITY.

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