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The Government today (January 18) announced the formation of the Lump Sum Grant Independent Review Committee to review the implementation of the Lump Sum Grant (LSG) Subvention System.
The committee comprises a non-official chairman and four members from different backgrounds, all appointed on a personal basis.
Appointed chairman is Mr Wilfred Wong Ying-wai, vice chairman and CEO of a private enterprise. Mr Wong has rich experience in community service. He is currently chairman of the Social Welfare Advisory Committee (SWAC) and the Council of the Hong Kong Baptist University, as well as a member of a number of government boards including the Airport Authority. As chairman of SWAC for the past five years, he has a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of the welfare sector.
The other four members are Ms Anna May Chan Mei-lan, a practising solicitor and chairman of the Social Security Appeal Board; Dr Dorothy Chan Yuen Tak-fai, the deputy director (administration and resources) of a tertiary institution and member of the Advisory Council on the Environment; medical doctor Dr Lawrence Li Kwok-chang, who is chairman of the Occupational Deafness Compensation Board, and Ms Ayesha MacPherson, partner of an accounting firm and member of the Women's Commission. They all have a good record of public service.
"The committee represents the Government's positive response to the welfare sector's request for an independent committee to review the Lump Sum Grant Subvention System which has been in place since 2001," said the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung.
"While we believe that the system has its merits, it is time to review its effectiveness and identify room for improvement. I am confident that this independent committee will provide useful and impartial advice to the Government," he added.
Depending on the actual progress, the committee is expected to complete the review in about six to nine months. It will report its findings and make recommendations to the Secretary for Labour and Welfare.
The committee's terms of reference are –
1. To review the Lump Sum Grant Subvention System with a view to assessing its overall effectiveness and identifying areas and scope for improvement covering but not limited to -
(a) overall implementation;
(b) flexibility, efficiency and cost-effectiveness in the use of public funds and in service delivery by subvented non-governmental organisations (NGOs);
(c) the accountability and corporate governance of subvented NGOs;
(d) the impact of the LSG on the quality of welfare service; and
(e) the handling of complaints related to implementation.
2. To report findings and make recommendations to the Secretary for Labour and Welfare.
Ends/Friday, January 18, 2008
Issued at HKT 16:00
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