By Fax (2892 5588)

Paper 5

Jan. 4, 2000

Mrs. Patricia Chu, JP
DD(Services)
Social Welfare Department
8/F, Wu Chung House,
213, Queen’s Road East,
Hong Kong

Dear Mrs Chu

Review of Family Services-Setting Up of the Steering Committee

We understand that the Department is working hard on the review. According to the tentative schedule you shared with us on Nov. 23, 1999, the Department must be working on the Consultancy Brief as well as the formation of the steering committee now.

With regard to the steering committee on the review, the Division would like to recommend the followings:

that the NGOs should be well represented in the committee. With rich experience in operating various family services, the NGO representatives would be able to contribute to the review which would determine the future operation and development of the services. We would like to suggest that NGO representatives constitute about 1/3 of the total membership of the committee.

As raised in the meeting on Nov. 23, 1999, we further suggest that the Department could specify the number of seats for Council to nominate the NGO representatives to the committee.

that the steering committee be set up early and takes up the function of assessing the proposals submitted by the bidders as well. This view was shared with you in our submission on Suggestions for the Consultancy Brief (our letter dated Dec. 24, 1999 refers).

Yours sincerely

Mariana Chan (Ms)

Division Officer

Family Service and Child Care Division

c.c. Mrs Amelia Ting, Chairperson, FSCCD

Ms Virginia Chan AD(AS)