XN000022-1995-02-15 — Page 46

—

24 -

Mutual Aid Committee subsidy under review

Following is a question by the Hon Szeto Wah and a reply by the Acting Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Joseph Wong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

In regard to the financial assistance granted to Mutual Aid Committees (MACS), will the Government inform this Council:

(a)

(b)

(c)

of the amount of financial assistance currently granted to MACs each month;

when the amount was last revised; and

whether there are any plans to increase the amount; if so, when it will be increased?

Reply:

Mr President,

Financial assistance is given by Government to MACs to help meet the costs of running the MAC offices. It covers such expenditure items as telephone rental, electricity charges, office furniture and equipment and stationery. The current level of subsidy, up to a maximum of $700 per quarter, was set in 1988. It has been kept under regular review.

We have recently initiated a review on the level of subsidy and aim to complete the exercise as soon as possible.

End/Wednesday, February 15, 1995