XN000022-1990-10-31 — Page 52

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 31, 1990

50

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GOVERNMENT'S CONTINUING COMMITMENT IN WELFARE SERVICE

IS BEYOND QUESTION

THE GOVERNMENT'S CONTINUING COMMITMENT IN SERVICES IS BEYOND QUESTION, THE ACTING SECRETARY WELFARE, THE HON HELEN YU, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

PROVIDING WELFARE FOR HEALTH AND

ON THE SPEAKING AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S RESUMED DEBATE

IN EXPENDITURE ON GOVERNOR'S POLICY SPEECH, MRS YU SAID THE TREND

A SOCIAL WELFARE HAD BEEN RISING STEADILY, BOTH IN REAL TERMS AND AS PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE OVER THE PAST DECADE.

"IN

GOVERNMENT RECURRENT

THE PERIOD 1989/90 - 1991/92, TOTAL EXPENDITURE IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE BY 21 PER CENT.

OVER THE SAME PERIOD, RECURRENT EXPENDITURE ON SOCIAL WILL RISE BY 25 PER CENT,

WELFARE

"THIS

DOES

NOT

INCLUDE CAPITAL

ITEMS,

ALLOCATIONS

FROM

E SHE SAID.

LOTTERIES FUND AND SERVICES BY OTHER DEPARTMENTS,

MRS YU SAID A NUMBER OF MEMBERS HAD SPOKEN AT LENGTH ON WELFARE FOR SERVICES, PARTICULARLY FAMILY SERVICES, AND THE BASIC PHILOSOPHY THEIR PROVISION, AND MOST OF THEIR SUGGESTIONS WERE REFLECTED IN DRAFT WHITE PAPER ON SOCIAL WELFARE.

"WE ARE CONSULTING THE PUBLIC NOW ON THE DRAFT WHITE PAPER THERE WILL BE A MOTION DEBATE NEXT WEEK,

SHE SAID.

THE

AND

REFERRING TO THE GOVERNOR'S ASSURANCE IN HIS POLICY SPEECH THAT

STRUCTURE THE ESSENTIAL

OF SOCIAL THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SUPPORT

IMPROVE STANDARDS, UPORADE SERVICES AND THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD

THE QUALITY OF SERVICES, INCREASE THEIR SCOPE AND GENERALLY ENHANCE

NET LIFE FOR THE ORDINARY HONG KONG FAMILY, MRS YU SAID: "THE SAFETY STAYS FIRMLY IN PLACE."

MEANS,

'PROTECTION OF THE VULNERABLE AND THE DISADVANTAGED WILL REMAIN GOVERNMENT'S PRIORITY; NO ONE WILL BE DENIED THROUGH LACK OF SHE SAID.

ABOUT QUALITY FEAR

YU SAID MRS

SOME MISAPPREHENSION THERE HAD BEEN GOVERNMENT SHIFTING THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IMPROVING THE FAMILY LIFE TO THE FAMILY ITSELF AND SHE EMPHASISED THAT THE WAS UNFOUNDED.

THE

OF

ON THE CONTRARY, WE "WE HAVE NO SUCH INTENTION WHATSOEVER.

SUPPORT WILL BE IMPROVING THESE SERVICES, IN QUALITY AND QUANTITY, TO AND STRENGTHEN THE FAMILY, SHE SAID.

H

MANY

OF US WERE LOCAL

BORN, THE

LOCAL BRED AND MRS YU SAID AS

FAMILY PROVIDING HAD LIVED AND THRIVED ON THE FINE TRADITION OF

OF OUR MUTUAL CARE AND SECURITY, THE FAMILY HAD BEEN THE CORNERSTONE COMMUNITY.

/"FAMILIES WHICH

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