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The Social Welfare Department (SWD) welcomed the Direct Investigation Report on Prevention of Abuse of Special Grants under the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Scheme released by The Ombudsman today (December 18).
A spokesman for the department said, "We will closely study the report and the recommendations with a view to achieving more effective administration of the special grants. The recommendations, where practicable, will be implemented as soon as possible.
"We note The Ombudsman's comment that our procedures for handling applications for special grants, criteria for approving these applications and mechanism for preventing abuse are generally in order. Nevertheless, we have conducted a critical review of the cases in question and agree that the staff should exercise due care in processing and approving special grants."
He added that the SWD, with The Ombudsman's recommendations, looks forward to further improving the existing system and ensuring that the gate-keeping mechanism is effectively maintained.
Ends/Thursday, December 18, 2008
Issued at HKT 11:36
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