TNAG-0876-FCO40-1086-Development-of-social-welfare-policy-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 240

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

GF 323

5.5

CONFIDENTIAL

43

機密

With this fundamental change in the basic financing of

social welfare services operated by the voluntary sector, and the

scale of developments envisaged in the coming decade, the Government

accepts that the present method of subventing social welfare services

through discretionary grants for specified services, is no longer

appropriate in all areas of service. For example, where the Government

sees an important role for the voluntary sector in a key area of

service, an assurance of adequate financial support is essential if

a service of the required standard is to be provided. It is also

important that there should be some means of ensuring that the

increasing public funds being devoted to welfare services are well

spent. Both the Government and the Hong Kong Council of Social

Service have been giving urgent attention to this matter and it is

hoped that consultations on proposed changes can reach fruition during

1979.

5.6

Relationship between Social Security and Social Welfare Services

Improvements in the range and level of social security

payments do not necessarily imply that direct social welfare services

should be correspondingly reduced. There is no inherent overlap

between the two, since social security provides financial help for

those who are unable to be fully self-supporting, whereas social

welfare scrvices are for those who have a need for such service.

Family counselling and community centres illustrate the general validity

of this statement. In the first case, what is needed is advice and

assistance in resolving family problems, not money. In the second

1

community centres provide a service which, generally speaking,

cannot be purchased commercially, so that a cash allowance would not

provide an adequate substituto.

CONFIDENTIAL

機密

Page 240Page 241

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