Chapter 2
OBJECTIVES
Overall policy objective
2.1
Improvement of Co-ordination
Although a sound basic infrastructure of rehabilitation services exists in Hong Kong and there are development plans for some services, which are related to the rehabilitation of the disabled, no overall objective has been formulated for rehabilitation. It is considered that overall objectives should be adopted, so that the necessary services for the disabled can be clearly identified. Therefore, having regard to the recommendations of the Working Group and to the comments of the public, the Government adopts the following policy objective for rehabilitation:--
"To provide such comprehensive rehabilitation services as are necessary to enable disabled persons to develop their physical, mental and social capabilities to the fullest extent which their disabilities permit."
The attainment of this objective will require improvement of many existing services and the introduction of new ones and entail the strengthening of the links and co-ordinating machinery between the Government departments and voluntary agencies which are providing services for the disabled.
2.2 The Government believes that co-ordination must be improved both at policy- making level and at working level, between the large number of Government departments and voluntary organisations providing rehabilitation services.
Establishment of the
2.3
Rehabilitation
Development
Co-ordinating Committee
A new unit in the Social Services Branch
Future review
To achieve the first objective, a Rehabilitation Development Co-ordinating Committee will be established, with the following terms of reference:-
(a) to advise on the development and phased implementation of rehabilitation services
in Hong Kong;
(b) to advise on the principles of subvention applicable to such services;
(c) to co-ordinate rehabilitation services in Government departments and voluntary organisations and to ensure that available resources are put to the best use;
(d) to advise on the respective roles of Government, voluntary organisations and other
bodies providing rehabilitation services; and
(e) to make recommendations on the training of rehabilitation workers.
The Committee will be presided over by a Chairman to be appointed by the Governor. It will comprise of about 12 members, including representatives of the Government Secre- tariat and the major Government departments involved in the provision of different re- habilitation services, and members of the public with knowledge and experience of rehabilitation.
2.4 The Social Services Branch will be responsible for co-ordinating the development of rehabilitation services and for supervising the activities of the departments and organi- sations involved.
2.5 The following chapters in this Paper list the specific objectives for the various rehabilitation services and targets for future development. These targets represent the level of services which the Government is confident of achieving in the coming decade, having taken into consideration the availability of suitable sites, building industry and design capacity, and the time needed for planning, construction and staff recruitment and training. However, it is important to note that these targets reflect the position as it is seen in 1977; in future planning and implementation, a flexible approach must be adopted.