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Following is a transcript of remarks (English portion) made by the Director of Social Welfare (DSW), Mr Stephen Fisher, at a media stand-up session after the Lump Sum Grant Steering Committee meeting held today (September 25):
Reporter: First, will the Government give more resources to the social welfare organisations. Second, what is the Government's position regarding the Lump Sum Grant system?
DSW: At today's meeting, we have three sets of proposals in front of us. Members have decided, after detailed discussion, to put forward one set of proposals. It consists of three elements. First of all, they have asked us to continue to review the Lump Sum Grant system. Secondly, they would like the Government to make available additional resources and these resources should go to the baseline, that is, it should be recurrent. Thirdly, they want the Government to make a quick decision on their proposals, and if the implementation would take some time, they would like the Government to consider some interim measures so as to enable them to deal with the problems they are now facing.
Reporter: What is the Government's decision regarding the Lump Sum Grant system?
DSW: These sets of proposals are put forward by members. We will put these proposals up to the Government. The final decision rests with the Government.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Issued at HKT 18:03
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