TNAG-1726-FCO40-2439-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 286

MR. HUI:

Sir

DRAFT SPEECH BY HON HUT YIN FAT LÉGISLATIVE COUNCIL 9.3.88

Social Work Training Fund (Amendment) Bill 1988

On this occasion of reviewing the Social Work Training Fund Ordinance, I wish to express the concern of the social service functional constituency over the composition and the terms of reference of the Social Work Training Fund

Committee.

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At a time when Hong Kong is taking cautious but progressive steps towards building an open government, we advocate that the Committee, to be in line with the Social Welfare Advisory Committee and Advisory Committee on Social Work Training, should be chaired by a person who is not a

as reflected in the Education Scholarships Fund. (Amendment) Bill 1988 tabled toda government official Furthermore, the existing practice appointing members to the Social Work Training Fund Committee on a personal basis should be replaced by one of appointing individuals from various representative organizations such as the Hong Kong Social Workers' Association, and the Hong Kong Council of Social Service whose member agencies employ a large number of social workers, and are concerned with their training prospects. Giving voluntary agencies representation on the

@ Committee would definitely strengthen the cooperation between government and voluntary agencies as well as enhance the Committee's accountability.

In the light of rapid development in the field of social welfare and social work training, we also believe that more indigenous teaching materials ought to be developed for the training of local social workers. In this respect, the role of the Committee in improving training facilities ought to be expanded and more training resources should be developed locally and abroad.

(I)