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The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, today (December 16) received the report on the review of the Lump Sum Grant Subvention System (LSGSS) submitted by the Lump Sum Grant Independent Review Committee (IRC) and thanked the IRC for its dedication and hard work.
Mr Cheung commended the IRC for adopting an open, transparent and comprehensive approach in undertaking the review on the LSGSS of the welfare sector and devising a variety of communication channels for stakeholders and members of the public to express their views.
He said, "The Chairman of the IRC, Mr Wilfred Wong Ying-wai and members Ms Anna May Chan Mei-lan, Dr Dorothy Chan Yuen Tak-fai, Dr Lawrence Li Kwok-chang and Ms Ayesha Macpherson have spent a substantial amount of time and efforts in completing the report with 36 recommendations on ways to improve the system. I attach great importance to the report which is done in the best interest of the welfare sector and the community as a whole."
Mr Cheung also thanked the NGOs and staff for their support of the review and participation in the process, noting that he was sure that the IRC would not have concluded the review in such an impartial manner without consultations and communication of such a breadth and depth.
The main report sets out, in 10 chapters and more than 100 pages, the IRC's analysis and findings of issues covered by its terms of reference. "I welcome the fact that after a thorough study of the subject, the IRC has arrived at the conclusion that the principles of LSGSS are sound and that the system should be retained. I believe that all stakeholders will try their very best to improve the system."
On January 18, 2008, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare appointed the five individuals from different professions with rich experience in community services to form the IRC. They were tasked to review the effectiveness of the LSGSS and to make recommendations on ways to improve the system and address complaints. The Administration will study the report in detail and make a full response in one to two months' time.
Ends/Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Issued at HKT 17:00
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