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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL ADDRESS BY CHAIRMANCHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):---Ladies and Gentlemen, the meeting is called to order.
MINUTESThe minutes of the meeting held on 14 July 1983 were confirmed.
(Mr. LEE Chik-yuet arrived at this point-4.02 p.m.)
STATEMENT BY CHAIRMANCHAIRMAN (in Cantonese):-
Urban Council Services for the Elderly
Hong Kong's success story is well known throughout the world and is largely attributable to the territory's industrious work force. However, many of these workers who have spent more than three decades contributing to Hong Kong's success and I am referring to the elderly-deserve to be rewarded and looked after.
Chinese people have great respect for the old and a family consisting of several generations has traditionally lived together happily.
Nevertheless, in the Hong Kong of today, there is an ever increasing demand for services for the elderly, partly because people are living longer than before and partly because of the scarcity of land thus restricting the size of domestic accommodation.
According to official statistics, the number of people aged 65 or over was more than 361 000 in mid-1982 representing about seven percent of the population. This number is projected to grow by more than 400 000 by the middle of 1987.
Much attention has been given to the senior citizens of our community by Government agencies and voluntary agencies with and without Government subvention.
The Urban Council, for its part, has not neglected the senior citizens of Hong Kong while planning and implementing various services and programmes. For many years, the Council has played a major role in community life by providing a wide range of recreational and sporting facilities for people from all walks of life, including the aged.
Not a day passes without some form of free outdoor entertainment programmes being organized for the people of Hong Kong, and many of those who attend are the elderly.
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A number of projects are being organized each year for senior members of the community, such as Chinese chess competitions, veteran cup mini-soccer competitions, lawn-bowl training courses and a fishing competition.
The Council also arranges a variety of programmes in collaboration with Government and voluntary organizations for the elderly. For example, the Festival for the Elderly' was jointly presented with the Hong Kong Council of Social Services, and a singing competition entitled the 'Evergreen Singing Competition' held jointly with the St. James Settlement.
This year, the Council is planning a totally different competition--a dancing competition for the elderly--which is expected to be held by the end of November or early December, either at the Ko Shan Theatre or at the Hong Kong Coliseum. Depending on the number of entries, the competition may last several days.
At times, at the request of voluntary agencies, the Council arranges special programmes to entertain the elderly at the homes for the aged. The programmes feature Cantonese opera as well as variety shows and are keenly attended by the elderly members of our community.
In recent years, the elderly, like the young, have become conscious of the need to keep fit, and the Council's numerous parks, playgrounds and other amenity plots throughout the urban area are the main venues where the elderly can do their morning exercises, or practise "Tai Chi', or simply go on a morning walk.
On the cultural side, performances tailored to suit the tastes and interests of the community at large, including our senior citizens are often presented. These presentations include Cantonese opera, dramas, Chinese music and ballet.
It is worthwhile to mention that some elderly groups will be entertained at specially reduced prices at the forthcoming American-Japanese Circus, to be presented by the Council in association with Capital Artists Limited. The Circus is scheduled to give 54 performances from July 30 to August 21 at the Hong Kong Coliseum.
Meanwhile, the Council's Library Section has organized a number of talks for the elderly on Classical Chinese and on Chinese medicine.
Talks on Classical Chinese are presented in association with the Hok Hoi Association at the City Hall Recital Hall, the Wanchai and Waterloo libraries on a weekly basis.
The Chinese medicine talks, presented in association with the Hong Kong Chinese Herbalist Association, take place once or twice a month at either the City Hall Recital Hall, City Hall Theatre or the Council libraries.
Council district libraries also offer courses or lessons where instructions on Cantonese operatic songs, crocheting, knitting, basic techniques in Chinese painting, and reading and writing for beginners of all ages.
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