XN000022-1992-10-21 — Page 9

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1992

7

"AS SUCH, THEY ARE ONLY INTENDED FOR THOSE IN THE COMMUNITY WHO ARE IN NEED OF FINANCIAL OR MATERIAL ASSISTANCE," SHE SAID.

IT WILL ALSO BE IMPRACTICABLE ΤΟ LIFT THE ABSENCE RULE ALTOGETHER IF AN ELDERLY PERSON IS ON PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, AS HIS ELIGIBILITY HAS TO BE REVIEWED FROM TIME TO TIME.

MRS WONG ALSO DISMISSED THE SUGGESTION OF PAYING THE SOCIAL SECURITY ALLOWANCES IN THE FORM OF AN ANNUAL LUMP SUM OWING TO PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES.

"FOR INSTANCE, THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY OF OVERPAYMENT THE RECIPIENTS' ELIGIBILITY CHANGE DURING THE YEAR," SHE SAID.

SHOULD

"RECIPIENTS MIGHT ALSO SUFFER IF THEY EXHAUST THE LUMP SUM BARLY IN THE YEAR."

MRS WONG SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD NO PLANS AT PRESENT TO SUBVENT HONG KONG WELFARE AGENCIES TO OPERATE HOMES FOR THE AGED IN CHINA FOR HONG KONG RESIDENTS.

AMPLE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR MEDICAL

AND SOCIAL WORK GRADUATES

CHAN, TOLD

THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THERE ARE AMPLE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRADUATES IN MEDICINE, SOCIAL WORK AND VARIOUS PARAMEDICAL STUDIES.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON CONRAD LAM KUI- SHING, MR CHAN SAID:

"HAVING REGARD TO THE MAJOR IMPROVEMENTS то THE WELFARE AND HEALTH CARE SERVICES ANNOUNCED IN THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS ON 7 OCTOBER 1992, WE ANTICIPATE THAT THERE WILL REQUIREMENT FOR ABOUT 1,270 MEDICAL, 3,100 SOCIAL WORK AND PARA MEDICAL GRADUATES AND DIPLOMATES BETWEEN NOW AND 1996/97 TO SERVICE NEEDS AND PROJECTED WASTAGE IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

SOCIAL

POLICY

BE A 1,250 MEET

HE SAID THE ADMINISTRATION REGULARLY REVIEWS AND UPDATES ITS FORECASTS OF REQUIREMENTS TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF CHANGED CIRCUMSTANCES AND THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR.

IT ALSO MAINTAINS REGULAR LIAISON WITH THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE REGARDING THE PUBLIC SECTOR'S MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS FOR THESE PROFESSIONAL GROUPS.

AT PRESENT, THE HOSPITAL AUTHORITY AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ARE REVIEWING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.

THE ADVICE OF THE HEALTH AND MEDICAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE WILL BE SOUGHT ON THE FINDINGS WHEN AVAILABLE.

ADVISORY

IN ADDITION,