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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
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strategy and policy in this regard before we can proceed to do anything about it. I am sure the Council and the Department would make reference to these facilities and operations for comparison purposes.
Regarding rental concessions, UC facilities are there to provide services to the public. If we offer subsidies to the disabled, indirectly, we are asking the public to subsidize them. That would involve a change in our policy. We have to refer this to our relevant Select Committee or the SCWC to consider the issue because it has policy implications.
MR. DANIEL TO BOON-MAN (in Cantonese):—I have a follow-up question concerning the disabled. Mr. Chairman, I think the concept is a good one because it shows that we care for the disabled in our community. But in replying to this question or in asking follow-up questions, I think one point hasn't been clarified, i.e., the difference between physically disabled and the mentally handicapped. When we talk about the handicapped, we are referring to mentally retarded. When we talk about disabled people, we are referring to physically disabled. I think there are different ways of dealing with these people by the social service. So we have to clarify this point before we can consider the problem. If we want to employ the mentally retarded to run catering establishments, the Select Committee concerned will have to be very careful because detailed planning, management, and quality control are required when running a catering establishment. This would involve some special training for the staff working in the catering establishments. In terms of the image of the catering establishments, we must consider this very carefully. If they are run purely on a commercial basis, I hope the Select Committee would consider this in depth.
Chairman (in Cantonese):—Mr. To, that is your views.
Mr. Daniel To Boon-man (in Cantonese):—My suggestion is that if we want to look after the needy ones in our community, then the physically disabled should be taken into account as well as the mentally retarded. If there is a motion, we have to amend it to the effect that the physically disabled should also be looked after.
Chairman (in Cantonese):—Are you asking whether your suggestion can be considered? Can you change your suggestion to the form of a follow-up question? Are you asking the Select Committee to discuss whether your suggestion can be considered or not?
MR. DANIEL To Boon-man (in Cantonese):—Mr. Chairman, I would like to clarify one point. If we want to look after the needy ones in the community, I suggest that we should clarify the difference between mentally handicapped and the physically disabled.
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