XN000022-1994-03-16 — Page 12

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1994

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HK'S WELFARE SYSTEM COMPARABLE TO ANY IN ASIA

HONG KONG HAS A HIGHLY DEVELOPED SYSTEM OF WELFARE SERVICES AND SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS WHICH IS COMPARABLE TO ANY IN ASIA, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MISS JACQUELINE WILLIS, SAID IN SINGAPORE TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE "WORKSHOP ON POPULATION AGING", MISS WILLIS SAID THE SYSTEM HAD DEVELOPED FROM THE PROVISION OF BASIC RELIEF IN THE EARLY 1970S TO THE PROVISION OF A BROAD RANGE OF SERVICES AND BENEFITS TO THOSE IN NEED OF CARE, PROTECTION AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.

SHE TOLD THE PARTICIPANTS THAT IN THE COMING FINANCIAL YEAR, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE PUTTING A STAGGERING $9.8 BILLION INTO SOCIAL WELFARE, WHICH REPRESENTS 6.8 PER CENT OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE AND 1.23 PER CENT OF GDP.

MISS WILLIS SAID HONG KONG HAD SET IN PLACE A COMPREHENSIVE SAFETY NET FOR THE NEEDY AND THE DISADVANTAGED.

IN ADDITION, A RANGE OF PREVENTIVE, DEVELOPMENTAL AND SUPPORT SERVICES, AS WELL AS REMEDIAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED FOR THOSE WHO ARE VULNERABLE AND REQUIRE SUCH ASSISTANCE.

"WE FOCUS PARTICULARLY ON THE NEEDS OF ELDERLY PEOPLE, WOMEN AND THE FAMILY.

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MISS WILLIS OUTLINED THE MAIN AREAS OF HONG KONG'S SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES AS LAID DOWN IN THE 1991 WHITE PAPER "SOCIAL WELFARE INTO THE 1990 AND BEYOND": FAMILY AND CHILD CARE SERVICES; SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH; ELDERLY SERVICES, AND SOCIAL SECURITY.

"I

"IN THIS YEAR, THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE FAMILY, WE WILL BE SPENDING $909 MILLION IN 1994/95 ON FAMILY AND CHILD WELFARE, SHE SAID.

"TO STRENGTHEN SUPPORT FOR THE FAMILY, ADDITIONAL FAMILY CASE WORKERS AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS WILL BE PROVIDED ΤΟ IMPROVE OUR COUNSELLING WORK, SHE ADDED.

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THE NUMBER OF HOME HELP TEAMS WILL BE INCREASED ΤΟ HELP FAMILIES IN NEED TO MANAGE THEIR HOMES BETTER AND TO COPE WITH THEIR DIFFICULTIES.

A NEW NETWORK OF FAMILY ACTIVITIES AND RESOURCE CENTRES WILL BE SET UP ACROSS THE TERRITORY, SHE ADDED.

ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH SERVICES, MISS WILLIS SAID A NEW INTEGRATED MODEL FOR THE DELIVERY OF THE SERVICES WOULD BE IMPLEMENTED FROM APRIL 1.

UNDER THIS MODEL, A TEAM OF SOCIAL WORKERS UNDER ONE MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE WILL WORK TOGETHER IN A CATCHMENT AREA TO PROVIDE BETTER AND MORE RELEVANT SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.

ON ELDERLY SERVICES, MISS WILLIS SAID THEY COVERED BOTH COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES AND RESIDENTIAL SERVICES.

/"OUR AIM