XN000022-1995-02-14 — Page 4

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3.

"We must consider the interests of the 150,000 households waiting without adequate housing."

As to medical and health services, Mr Patten said the Hospital Authority had done a great deal since 1991 to re-examine and refocus medical services and

resources.

"Much can be achieved by spending less on those with the ability to pay and redeploying resources to those without."

Outlining social programmes in the near future, Mr Patten said the Government was going full steam ahead on implementing the recommendations in last year's Report of the Working Group on Care for the Elderly.

For people with disabilities, a target of providing 7,700 extra residential and day care places by 1997 has been set. A White Paper on Rehabilitation is about to be published and in a couple of months tough new disability discrimination legislation will be introduced.

To help young people and families, in the next financial year additional staff will be provided to handle child abuse cases and help young drug abusers, and more family social workers will be provided.

For those on social security assistance, since 1990/91, payments have increased by 97 per cent, over double the overall inflation over the period. Next year apart from increases to cover inflation for all, the Government will provide specific extra payments of $200 a month for single parent families, $205 a month for children and make increases for students aged between 19 and 21.

Mr Patten attributed the growth of social programmes to market economics and prudent government management of public funds.

"A socially responsible market economy is more efficient as well as more decent," he said.

End/Tuesday, February 14, 1995

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