XN000022-1989-11-01 — Page 14

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1989

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POLICY ADDRESS SHOWS DETERMINATION, FORESIGHT

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THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY ADDRESS HAS DEMONSTRATED TO OVERSEAS COUNTRIES THE DETERMINATION AND FORESIGHT WITH WHICH THE GOVERNMENT IS GUIDING HONG KONG THROUGH THE TRANSITIONAL PERIOD AND ENSURING THAT IT WILL REMAIN PROSPEROUS IN THE 21ST CENTURY, THE HON HUI YIN-FAT SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR HUI SAID IN THE POLICY DEBATE HE WAS PARTICULARLY TO SEE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS NOT ONLY HEART THE WELFARE OF ITS PEOPLE.

GRATIFIED

FORWARD-LOOKING BUT HAD AT

HE NOTED THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD ASKED FOR A REVIEW OF SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES WITH A VIEW TO PUBLISHING A WHITE PAPER IN THE SECOND HALF OF NEXT YEAR SETTING OUT PROPOSALS ON THE WAY AHEAD. THE SUBVENTED SECTOR COULD MAKE A POSITIVE AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THIS EXERCISE.

AS FAR AS SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES FOR THE 1990'S WERE CONCERNED, MR HUI SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONTINUE TO BUILD ON THE EXISTING SYSTEM SO THAT OUR POLICY WOULD ACHIEVE THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF UNIVERSAL SERVICES.

"THE GOVERNMENT WILL ENSURE ADEQUATE SERVICES FOR EVERYONE IN NEED. ALSO, THE QUALITY OF SERVICE SHOULD TAKE INTO ACCOUNT PEOPLE'S BASIC RIGHTS, DEVELOPMENT AND DIGNITY, HE NOTED.

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MR HUI SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD DEVOTE A GREAT DEAL OF ATTENTION ΤΟ IDENTIFYING THE NEEDS OF SOCIETY AND DRAWING PRACTICAL PROPOSALS, INCLUDING THOSE FOR NEW SERVICES.

UP

"THE 1990 WHITE PAPER SHOULD PROVIDE A NEW, REALISTIC BASE FOR SETTING PLANNING STANDARDS AND STAND AND COSTS FOR EACH TYPE OF SOCIAL SERVICE," HE SAID.

"THE COMPONENTS OF THIS BASE SHOULD BE REVIEWED REGULARLY, AT LEAST ONCE EVERY FIVE YEARS, TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES WHILE THE STANDARDS FOR BACH SERVICE AREA SHOULD BE ADJUSTED MORE FREQUENTLY, PERHAPS ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS.

"THERE SHOULD ALSO BE SOME FORM OF INCOME RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR OUR RAPIDLY GROWING AGED.

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PROTECTION AND

MR HUI CALLED ON THE GOVERNMENT то PREPARE ITS FIVE-YEAR FORECAST ON SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES SPENDING WITH CARE, ACCURACY AND VISION, AND TO PROVIDE FOR AN UPWARD ADJUSTMENT OF ITS ALLOCATION SOCIAL SERVICES IN ITS 1990 WHITE PAPER.

FOR

/HE SAID