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# HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
## ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN
CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
Before we proceed with the agenda, I would like to welcome to the Council, Dr. BROWNE, who has taken over as Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services in place of Dr. K. H. CHEUNG who is now on leave prior to retirement. I am sorry that I did not receive notice of this change at our previous meeting so that we could have thanked Dr. CHEUNG personally for his services to us. Dr. BROWNE is, of course, no stranger having served on many of the Council's Select Committees. I would also like to welcome back Mr. HOLMES on resuming his seat as Secretary for Home Affairs. (Applause).
Finally, (addressing Mr. BERNACCHI) special congratulations are due to our senior Unofficial Member, Mr. BERNACCHI, on the announcement of his forthcoming marriage. (Applause). Mr. BERNACCHI, I place on record the Council's sincere wishes for your and your fiancee's future happiness together. (Applause).
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI :-Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
## MINUTES
The Minutes of the meeting held on 4th November, 27th November and 28th November, 1969 were confirmed.
## PAPER
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following paper:
Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services Department for the month of November, 1969.
## QUESTIONS
(1) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:-
(a) When compassionate cases are sent from the wards to Social Welfare Offices, why is it necessary for the applicant to have a letter from the ward each time he wishes to see the officer in charge of his case?
(b) Is there any system whereby an applicant may return himself to see the caseworker in charge of his case?
(c) Is it true that applicants of this kind are turned away if they have no introductory letter?
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THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE replied as follows:
Sir, the short answers to Mrs. ELLIOTT's three questions are:-
(a) It is not necessary for applicants for assistance from the Social Welfare Department to have a letter from a Ward Councillor (or from anyone) in order to see a caseworker, and the great majority of applicants do not have such letters.
(b) Clients may call at any time to see the caseworker concerned.
(c) No.
(Mr. Raymond Y. K. KAN and Mr. Peter P. F. CHAN arrived at this point).
But if I may elaborate a little, Members will appreciate that not all cases originate from Ward offices. Others are referred by different Government departments and offices, by voluntary organizations and, of course, a large number of applicants apply themselves and are not referred by anyone. During the course of a year about 200 cases are referred from Ward offices. At the present time, the Social Welfare Department is dealing with about 15,000 cases.
However, it seems apparent from the wording of Mrs. ELLIOTT's question that she has been given cause to believe a letter is required, and if she would like to give me a note of the circumstances which have given rise to this misunderstanding, I shall be glad to look into the matter.
(Mr. A. de O. SALES arrived at this point).
MRS. ELLIOTT:—Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the Director and ask him if he would look into it because so many people do come back to the Ward and say they tried themselves to get into Social Welfare and were told to go away.
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE: -I will certainly do so, as I say, I might, with due respect, point out that this is neither supplementary nor a question.
(2) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:—
(a) How many complaints have been received concerning the state of disrepair of bathrooms in Chuk Yuen Cottage Estate Section 2, near No. 253?
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
ADDRESS BY CHAIRMAN.
CHAIRMAN:-Ladies and gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
Before we proceed with the agenda, I would like to welcome to the Council, Dr. BROWNE, who has taken over as Deputy Director of Medical and Health Services in place of Dr. K. H. CHEUNG who is now on leave prior to retirement. I am sorry that I did not receive notice of this change at our previous meeting so that we could have thanked Dr. CHEUNG personally for his services to us. Dr. BROWNE is, of course, no stranger having served on many of the Council's Select Committees. I would also like to welcome back Mr. HOLMES on resuming his seat as Secretary for Home Affairs. (Applause).
Finally, (addressing Mr. BERNACCHI) special congratulations are due to our senior Unofficial Member, Mr. BERNACCHI, on the announce- ment of his forthcoming marriage. (Applause). Mr. BERNACCHI, I place on record the Council's sincere wishes for your and your fiancee's future happiness together. (Applause).
MR. B. A. BERNACCHI :-Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
MINUTES.
The Minutes of the meeting held on 4th November, 27th November and 28th November, 1969 were confirmed.
PAPER.
THE CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the following paper:
Report on the work of the Urban Council and Urban Services
Department for the month of November, 1969.
QUESTIONS.
(1) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:-
(a) When compassionate cases are sent from the wards to Social Welfare Offices, why is it necessary for the applicant to have a letter from the ward each time he wishes to see the officer in charge of his case?
(b) Is there any system whereby an applicant may return
himself to see the caseworker in charge of his case?
(c) Is it true that applicants of this kind are turned away
if they have no introductory letter?
:
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345
THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE replied as follows:
Sir, the short answers to Mrs. ELLIOTT's three questions
are:-
(a) It is not necessary for applicants for assistance from the Social Welfare Department to have a letter from a Ward Councillor (or from anyone) in order to see a caseworker, and the great majority of applicants do not have such letters.
(b) Clients may call at any time to see the caseworker
concerned.
(c) No.
(Mr. Raymond Y. K. KAN and Mr. Peter P. F. CHAN arrived at this point).
But if I may elaborate a little, Members will appreciate that not all cases originate from Ward offices. Others are referred by different Government departments and offices, by voluntary organizations and, of course, a large number of applicants apply themselves and are not referred by anyone. During the course of a year about 200 cases are referred from Ward offices. At the present time, the Social Welfare Department is dealing with about 15,000 However, it seems apparent from the wording of Mrs. ELLIOTT's question that she has been given cause to believe a letter is required, and if she would like to give me a note of the circumstances which have given rise to this misunderstanding. I shall be glad to look into the matter.
cases.
(Mr. A. de O. SALES arrived at this point).
MRS. ELLIOTT:—Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank the Director and ask him if he would look into it because so many people do come back to the Ward and say they tried themselves to get into Social Welfare and were told to go away.
DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE: -I will certainly do so, as I say, I might, with due respect, point out that this is neither supplementary nor a question.
(2) MRS. E. ELLIOTT asked the following question:—
(a) How many complaints have been received concerning the state of disrepair of bathrooms in Chuk Yuen Cottage Estate Section 2, near No. 253?
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