ENG-1995 — Page 222

SOCIAL WELFARE

personnel in the year to pursue training courses locally or overseas to upgrade their professional knowledge and skills.

The Advisory Committee on Social Work Training and Manpower Planning advises the government through the Social Welfare Advisory Committee on the training and planning of social work manpower to meet welfare service needs. As recommended by the committees, the intake of sub-degree diploma courses of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the City University of Hong Kong will be increased by 200 per year from 1995 to 1998 to provide additional social workers at diploma level to meet the manpower shortage.

Research and Statistics

The department conducts surveys and research studies, develops and maintains data systems and undertakes statistical compilation and estimation for the monitoring, planning and development of social welfare services. The data systems provide management information over a wide range of areas including planned welfare projects, social welfare manpower and customers awaiting and receiving various social welfare services.

Subvention and Evaluation

Financial assistance is given to 168 non-governmental organisations for the provision of social welfare services in accordance with government policies. Financial assistance for capital and special expenditure is also provided through the Lotteries Fund. The Subventions and Lotteries Fund Advisory Committee advises on the allocation of subventions and Lotteries Fund grants to agencies providing social welfare and rehabilitation services.

The department's Evaluation Unit is responsible for monitoring and assessing services provided by subvented non-governmental organisations. Departmental staff make regular visits to the agencies which, in turn, submit service statistics quarterly. In March 1995, the government commissioned consultants to conduct an 18-month review with a view to improving the administration of the social welfare subvention system so that subvented non-government organisations (NGOs) will be given greater flexibility to provide their services cost-effectively and with better accountability through individual NGO administrators and the DSW.

The consultancy review will be delivered in three stages. The first stage, on investigation, ended in July 1995 and the second phase, on detailed workings, will end around January/February 1996 depending on the actual progress. The entire consultancy is expected to be completed around August 1996.

Community Building

Several government departments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) con- tribute towards the community-building programme, which serves to foster among the people of Hong Kong a sense of belonging, mutual care and civic responsibility as society undergoes rapid socio-economic changes.

Community-building efforts involve providing purpose-built facilities for group and community activities, the formation of citizens' organisations, and the encouragement of community participation in the administration of public affairs, solving community problems, promoting social stability and improving the quality

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