XN000022-1990-09-18 — Page 12

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 1990

TURNING TO THE SUBJECT OF YOUTH SERVICES, MRS WONG THAT THE WORKING PARTY FULLY RECOGNISED THE IMPORTANCE OF IN SERVICES FOR THE YOUNG, AND FELT THAT SCHOOL SOCIAL OUTREACHING SOCIAL WORK SERVICES SHOULD BE STRENGTHENED AND DEVELOPED.

EXPLAINID INVESTING WORK AND FURTHER

ON SERVICES FOR ELDERLY PERSONS, MRS WONG REMARKED: "THE DRAFT WHITE PAPER HIGHLIGHTS THE SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN FUTURE IN THE NUMBER OF ELDERLY PERSONS AND PROPOSES ΤΟ EXPAND SUPPORT AND RESIDENTIAL SERVICES TO OVERCOME THE EXISTING SERVICE GAPS AND ΤΟ MEET THE ANTICIPATED INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR THESE SERVICES AND TO ENHANCE THE CONCEPT OF INTEGRATION BETWEEN SERVICES AREAS.

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AS REGARDS SOCIAL SECURITY, MRS WONG NOTED THAT THE WORKING PARTY HELD THE VIEW THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT IN THIS AREA SHOULD BE REAFFIRMED.

"THE PHILOSOPHY IS TO BASE SOCIAL SECURITY ON THE CONCEPT OF NEED RATHER THAN ENFORCED SAVING THROUGH A CONTRIBUTORY SCHEME. THE EXISTING SYSTEM SHOULD BE FURTHER DEVELOPED ON THE BASIS OF SPECIFIC NEEDS, SHE SAID.

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HOWEVER, MRS WONG ADDED: "MANY OF THE PUBLIC RECEIVED MADE REFERENCE TO CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUNDS.

SUBMISSIONS

"CONSIDERATION OF SUCH PROPOSALS FELL OUTSIDE THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE WORKING PARTY BUT THE RELEVANT VIEWS AND COMMENTARIES HAVE BEEN FORWARDED TO THE APPROPRIATE POLICY SECRETARY FOR REFERENCE AND EVALUATION.

SHE FURTHER ADDED THAT THE WORKING PARTY PROPOSED THAT THE PRESENT SUBVENTION SYSTEM BE IMPROVED AND SIMPLIFIED WHILE CONTINUING TO ENSURE VALUE FOR MONEY.

THE

THE CHAIRMAN STRESSED THAT THROUGH THIS DRAFT WHITE PAPER, WORKING PARTY PROPOSED TO PRESERVE, STRENGTHEN, AND DEVELOP THE EXISTING SOCIAL WELFARE SYSTEM WITH A FUTURB FOCUS ON IDENTIFIED SERVICE GAPS AND ADOPTING GREATER INTEGRATION, FLEXIBILITY, INNOVATION AND RESOURCEFULNESS IN THE PROVISION OF SERVICES.

IN CONCLUSION, MRS WONG SAID: "WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE NON-GOVERNMENTAL SECTOR AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE, THE WORKING PARTY BELIEVES THAT THE SOUND FOUNDATION OF OUR SERVICES CAN BE DEVELOPED TO CATER FOR THE CHANGING PATTERNS OF SOCIETY AND TO MEET THE NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF OUR COMMUNITY INTO THE 1990'S AND BEYOND.

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COPIES OF THE DRAFT WHITE PAPER ARE AVAILABLE AT SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S BRANCH OFFICES, DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION AND THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE IN CONNAUGHT PLACE.

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