XN000022-1994-04-21 — Page 26

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THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 1994

PER

HE POINTED OUT THAT 80 SERVICES IN HONG KONG WERK PROVIDED (NGOS).

CENT OF DIRECT SOCIAL WELFARE RY NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONS

DURING THIS FINANCIAL YEAR GOVERNMENT WILL PROVIDE NOOS WITH ABOUT $3 BILLION IN CAPITAL AND RECURRENT EXPENDITURE TO MEET AGREED SOCIAL WELFARE TARGETS, OVER 88 PER CENT OF THEIR TOTAL EXPENDITURE.

EXPENDITURE ON FAMILY AND CHILD WELFARE ALONE THIS YEAR WILL INCREASE BY 17.5 PER CENT IN REAL TERMS TO $909 MILLION.

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WILL

IN ADDITION, SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY AND REHABILITATION INCREASE RESPECTIVELY BY 27.1 PEr cent AND 17.4 PER CENT TO $884 MILLION AND $749 MILLION.

"TO FURTHER SUPPORT FAMILIES WITH ELDERLY PERSONS, THERE IS A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES, INCLUDING FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE SOCIAL SECURITY ALLOWANCE SCHEME, COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES LIKE SOCIAL CENTRES, MULTI-SERVICES CENTRES AND DAY CARE CENTRES FOR THE ELDERLY, AND RESIDENTIAL FACILITIES LIKE CARE-AND-ATTENTION HOMES AND HOMES FOR THE AGED," MR STRACHAN SAID.

A WORKING GROUP ON CARE FOR THE ELDERLY HAS BEEN APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR TO REVIEW POLICIES ON HOUSING, SOCIAL SECURITY, WELFARE, MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY. THIS WORKING GROUP IS FORMULATING STRATEGIES FOR THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY.

ON A PACKAGE OF SERVICES ΤΟ SUPPORT FAMILIES WITH DISABLED MEMBERS, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE SAID THESE INCLUDED DAY ACTIVITY AND TRAINING CENTRES, SHELTERED WORKSHOPS, RESIDENTIAL CARE AND RESPITE SERVICES.

THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS DEVELOPING SUPPORT EMPLOYMENT FOR DISABLED PERSONS TO ENHANCE THEIR CAPACITY FOR WORK AND MORE INDEPENDENT LIVING. IT IS ALSO CONDUCTING A REVIEW OF THE OPERATION OF SHELTERED WORKSHOPS WITH THE SAME PURPOSE.

"RECENTLY, WE ADOPTED A MORE STATISTICALLY BASED FORMULA IN PROJECTING DEMANDS FOR REHABILITATION SERVICES.

"THE DEPARTMENT WILL BID FOR MORE RESOURCES TO MEET ALL THESE DEMANDS AS SOON AS IT IS PRACTICABLY POSSIBLE, HE SAID.

TURNING TO THE GOVERNMENT'S STRATEGY ON SOCIAL WELFARE POLICY, MR STRACHAN SAID IT WAS SET OUT IN THE 1991 WHITE PAPER: "SOCIAL WELFARE INTO THE 1990'S AND BEYOND.

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EXPLICITLY AND NEW TARGETS

"THEREIN THE STATUS OF FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY IS AND POSITIVELY AFFIRMED AND A WAY IS PAVED FOR ALL EXISTING WELFARE SERVICES TO BE EXPANDED AND DEVELOPED TO MEET PLANNED AGREED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN CONSULTATION WITH THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE AND NGOS.

"IN ORDER TO REALISE A WELFARE PLAN FOR FAMILIES, THE WHITE PAPER TARGETS HAVE TO BE FULFILLED THROUGH RE-ORGANISATION OF EXISTING RESOURCES, INPUT OF ADDITIONAL RESOURCES, AND SETTING OF PRIORITIES, HE ADDED.

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