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THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE replied as follows:
The first part of the question alleges that in these cases social welfare investigations usually require three months or more. This is not so. Investigations of this kind by my caseworkers require two to three weeks on average. They sometimes take longer, for instance because of difficulty in locating an applicant at home, or in verifying information given and so on; I am always ready to look into any instances where it seems that quicker action ought to have been taken. According to my records of such applications received at the Headquarters of the Social Welfare Department through Mrs. ELLIOTT since the beginning of the current year, the average period between the date of receipt and the date of reply was just under 16 days. If applicants would first call in person at the nearest welfare centre, this would speed up inquiries, because the caseworkers could then interview them on the spot, before visiting them at home.
In reply to the second and third parts of the question, my Department and a number of voluntary welfare agencies are ready to assist, in a variety of ways, families who apply for help and are found to be in need for whatever reason. The causes would include loss of livelihood or other temporary difficulties due to having to move from a squatter hut to a resite or resettlement area. Such families may be assisted to get their children into school, with free places or help in paying fees in some cases; or may be given help in kind or in cash as well as assisted to find employment. The Labour Department provides an Employment Information Service and the Hong Kong Council of Social Service runs an Employment Assistance Scheme, to which applicants may be referred or may apply direct.
MRS. ELLIOTT:- May I assure the Director of Social Welfare that I should not have asked this question if I had not had some reason for it. I have in my hand a case for which I applied for a Hawker's Pitch on 12th July, 1964, and it was granted on the 25th June, 1965 which is approximately one year. Now I know that some cases are quicker than that, and I have noticed a definite speed up in the past fortnight—I sent in this question about a fortnight ago—and I would like to ask that the Director would check up and make sure that these urgent cases are dealt with. This case is a mental case, a very serious one, and I think it could have been dealt with more quickly.
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE:- Mr. Chairman, I shall be very happy indeed to look into the case to which Mrs. ELLIOTT refers. I'm afraid I don't know the details of it so therefore I can't comment. I can also assure Mrs. ELLIOTT that there has been no change in the procedure in the last fortnight due to the asking of this question. The figures I referred to relate to the period since the beginning of 1965 and I do not think this implication is in fact justified, but I should be grateful if Mrs. ELLIOTT would refer to me any cases of delay because I am as anxious as she is to see that these things are dealt with quickly.
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(12) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:-
Does this Council have any plans for public car parks for private cars and for hire-lorries in congested areas such as Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon City, and other areas in Kowloon and Hong Kong where at present parking on the ground-level is obstructing moving traffic?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
This Council's responsibilities comprise the management of such car parks as the Governor may direct under the appropriate Road Traffic Regulations, and do not extend to the planning of car parks. The answer to the question is therefore that the Council has no such plans. But, I am advised that Government will later this month refer a comprehensive paper on future car parking policy to the Council for Members' comments, and I am assured that your views on the matters referred to in your question will be most welcome.
MRS. E. ELLIOTT:- Mr. Chairman, as this matter is going to be brought before the Council may I suggest that all our members also consider this matter and put forward their views.
(13) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:-
Recently a woman hawker had her goods confiscated by the Police, causing much publicity in the Press. In another case, I asked personally if the Police would return perishable goods to hawkers charged with obstruction. Although the charge was one of obstruction with a basket (not the goods inside it) the request was refused. Could the law be made clear to the Council on this point, as to whether the Police have the right to confiscate and dispose of goods thus seized, regardless of the magistrate's
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Page 96 of 382
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THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE replied as follows:
The first part of the question alleges that in these cases social welfare investigations usually require three months or more. This is not so. Investigations of this kind by my caseworkers require two to three weeks on average. They sometimes take longer, for instance because of difficulty in locating an applicant at home, or in verifying informa- tion given and so on; I am always ready to look into any instances where it seems that quicker action ought to have been taken. According to my records of such applications received at the Headquarters of the Social Welfare Depart- ment through Mrs. ELLIOTT since the beginning of the current year, the average period between the date of receipt and the date of reply was just under 16 days. If applicants would first call in person at the nearest welfare centre, this would speed up inquiries, because the caseworkers could then interview them on the spot, before visiting them at home.
In reply to the second and third parts of the question, my Department and a number of voluntary welfare agencies are ready to assist, in a variety of ways, families who apply for help and are found to be in need for whatever reason. The causes would include loss of livelihood or other tem- porary difficulties due to having to move from a squatter hut to a resite or resettlement area. Such families may be assisted to get their children into school, with free places or help in paying fees in some cases; or may be given help in kind or in cash as well as assisted to find employment. The Labour Department provides an Em- ployment Information Service and the Hong Kong Council of Social Service runs an Employment Assistance Scheme, to which applicants may be referred or may apply direct.
MRS. ELLIOTT:-May I assure the Director of Social Welfare that I should not have asked this question if I had not had some reason for it. I have in my hand a case for which I applied for a Hawker's Pitch on 12th July, 1964, and it was granted on the 25th June, 1965 which is approximately one year. Now I know that some cases are quicker than that, and I have noticed a definite speed up in the past fortnight- I sent in this question about a fortnight ago—and I would like to ask that the Director would check up and make sure that these urgent cases are dealt with. This case is a mental case, a very serious one, and I think it could have been dealt with more quickly.
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE:-Mr. Chairman, I shall be very happy indeed to look into the case to which Mrs. ELLIOTT refers. I'm
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I
afraid I don't know the details of it so therefore I can't comment. can also assure Mrs. ELLIOTT that there has been no change in the pro- cedure in the last fortnight due to the asking of this question. The figures I referred to relate to the period since the beginning of 1965 and I do not think this implication is in fact justified, but I should be grateful if Mrs, ELLIOTT would refer to me any cases of delay because I am as anxious as she is to see that these things are dealt with quickly.
(12) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:-
Does this Council have any plans for public car parks for private cars and for hire-lorries in congested areas such as Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon City, and other areas in Kowloon and Hong Kong where at present park- ing on the ground-level is obstructing moving traffic?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:
This Council's responsibilities comprise the management of such car parks as the Governor may direct under the appropriate Road Traffic Regulations, and do not extend to the planning of car parks. The answer to the question is therefore that the Council has no such plans. But, I am advised that Government will later this month refer a comprehensive paper on future car parking policy to the Council for Members' comments, and I am assured that your views on the matters referred to in your question will be most welcome.
MRS. E. ELLIOTT:-Mr. Chairman, as this matter is going to be brought before the Council may I suggest that all our members also consider this matter and put forward their views.
(13) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:-
Recently a woman hawker had her goods confiscated by the Police, causing much publicity in the Press. In another case, I asked personally if the Police would return perish- able goods to hawkers charged with obstruction. Al- though the charge was one of obstruction with a basket (not the goods inside it) the request was refused. Could the law be made clear to the Council on this point, as to whether the Police have the right to confiscate and dis- pose of goods thus seized, regardless of the magistrate's
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