TNAG-1136-FCO40-1416-Address-by-Sir-Edward-Youde--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-the-L-1982 — Page 13

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responsibilities.

Nor would I consider it essential

for a professionally qualified officer to fill such a

post, even if it was created although, consistent with

the policy of opening up all directorate level posts to

members of departmental cadres as well as the Administrative

Service, there would be no reason why it should not be.

21.

Having said that, I accept that our medical and health services do deserve more attention at the highest policy level; and this will be done by removing responsibility for rehabilitation and labour matters from the present Secretary for Social Services and re-titling his post as

Secretary for Health and Welfare. At the same time,

responsibility for environmental protection and environmental hygiene, subjects which are closely associated with the health of the community, will be transferred to the new Secretary for Health and Welfare

from the Secretary for Home Affairs. Thus the schedule of responsibilities of the new Secretary for Health and Welfare will become medical and health services (including public health), social welfare (including child welfare) and environmental affairs (both protection and hygiene).

22.

Secondly, and consequential to this change, the Secretary for Education will take over responsibility for rehabilitation and labour matters from the Secretary for Social Services; and he will consequently be re-titled Secretary for Education and Manpower.

So his schedule

of responsibilities will be broadened to cover all levels and types of education, i.e. kindergarten, primary, secondary, tertiary (including the UPGC), technical education and industrial training (including the Vocational Training Council), rehabilitation (including special éducation for handicapped children, referred to by Miss Bennett, as well as the training of the disabled) and labour matters. As there are close links between education, rehabilitation, industrial training and employment, this new schedule should also result in a more appropriate and effective group of policy responsibilities.

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