*********************************************************

The Health and Welfare Bureau has set up a working group to look into various implementation issues arising from the 1999 Subvention Review Exercise proposals.

The Working Group on Implementation of the 1999 Subvention Review Exercise Proposals is chaired by Deputy Secretary for Health and Welfare, Mr Robin Gill. It comprises representatives from the Hong Kong Council of Social Service, welfare agencies, an academic and the Social Welfare Department.

Specifically, it will advise the Secretary for Health and Welfare on the proposed lump-sum funding arrangements for subvented welfare agencies; the method of allocating new welfare service units; the mechanism to review welfare services to ensure they are meeting the present day needs of the community; and how to communicate and discuss these issues with the welfare sector and the public.

At its first meeting today (Thursday), members discussed a wide range of issues, including the Working Group's terms of reference, planned milestones, ways and means to consult non-government organisations' (NGO) Boards, Management and staff, and improvements to the competitive bidding process suggested by the HK Council of Social Service in the light of the recent home care service exercise.

Members also agreed to meet with representatives of frontline staff in the NGO welfare sector to look into staff-related issues as soon as possible.

The following is a membership list of the Working Group :

Chairman :

Mr Robin C Gill, Deputy Secretary, HWB

Members :

Ms Virginia Chan, Assistant Director, HK Council of Social Service

Mr Darwin Chen, Executive Director, The Community Chest

Mr Ng Shui Lai, Director, HK Christian Service

Ms Dorothy Lau, Director, SKH Diocesan Welfare Council

Prof. Diana Mak, The HK Polytechnic University

Mrs Cheung Ang Siew-mei, Executive Director, Christian Action

Mrs Marion Lai, Deputy Director (Admin), SWD

Mrs Patricia Chu, Deputy Director (Services), SWD

Mrs June Sherry, Assistant Director (Subvention), SWD

Secretary :

Mr Stephen Pang, Principal Assistant Secretary, HWB

Its terms of reference are :

The Working Group will advise the Secretary for Health and Welfare on the implementation issues and required action associated with the proposals in the 1999 Subvention Review Exercise, particularly -

(a) the lump-sum funding arrangements;

(b) the allocation of new welfare service units;

(c) the mechanism to regularly review and where necessary, re-engineer welfare services delivered to the community, using existing instruments as far as possible; and

(d) the communication strategy with the welfare sector and the public.

End/Thursday, December 2, 1999

NNNN