ENG-1977 — Page 163

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SOCIAL WELFARE

they do not belong to a clearly-defined vulnerable group. Because employers may be willing to play a more positive role in this area of social security, the Green Paper on Social Security Development proposes the introduction of a centrally-administered semi-voluntary contributory sickness, injury and death benefit scheme. The main aim of the scheme would be to provide a monthly benefit for those off work longer than the maximum period of 36 paid sickness days provided for under the Employment Ordinance, with a lump sum for the heirs of contributors dying before the age of 60. Other benefits payable will depend on actuarial advice. The intention is that the em- ployee should be free to decide whether to join the scheme but, if he does, his employer also would have to pay contributions unless he were contracted out of the scheme. Further consideration of this scheme will depend on public response to the Green Paper. If public reaction indicates widespread demand for such a scheme, the government will proceed to establish on an actuarial basis and will consult employers and employees on the details of the scheme.

The government's main objective in its plans for the elderly is to encourage families to continue to care for their elderly members. Apart from introducing new social security benefits for the elderly, the Green Paper on Services for the Elderly contains proposals to meet their medical and housing needs and for the expansion of home help services. Other proposals include setting up multi-service centres and social centres for the elderly and expanding institutional care, including care and attention facilities.

The rapid extension of recreational and cultural activities for the population as a whole, and particularly for young people, has proved to be highly beneficial to the development of young people into mature and responsible citizens. However, there still exists a small minority of young people who are vulnerable to delinquent influ- ences and who are not attracted to organised activities. The Green Paper on Personal Social Work Among Young People contains new proposals for comprehensive school social work services, a cautious expansion of outreaching social work and co- ordinated programmes of family life education.

The various proposals set out in the White Paper and the three Green Papers call for an additional 3,500 trained personnel by 1978–9, increasing to 6,400 in 1982–3. The main increase is in teachers, nurses and graduate and non-graduate social workers, with a small increase in the number of doctors and para-medical specialists deployed in the rehabilitation field. In 1977-8, funds provided for all the services covered by the White Paper and three Green Papers amounted to $407 million; the new package of proposals envisages recurrent expenditure rising to $719 million by 1982-3, with capital expenditure over the same period amounting to $178 million.

Social welfare development projects carried out in 1977 included the completion of five community halls; extending the public assistance scheme to cover the able-bodied unemployed; implementing the Child Care Centres Ordinance and opening six new government-subvented nurseries; making a start on a new institution to replace the Ma Tau Wei Girls' Home; establishing two homes and a hostel for the elderly; open- ing an advanced training centre for the mentally retarded; and providing more training places for mentally handicapped children.

Responsibility for implementing government policies on social security and welfare programmes rests with the Director of Social Welfare, whose department operates