6
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1976
SUPPORT FOR GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION SERVICES
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DR. THE HON. HARRY FANG TODAY GAVE HIS SUPPORT TO THE RECOMMENDATIONS IN THE GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION SERVICES WHICH, HE SAID, +HAVE FAR-REACHING IMPLICATIONS+.
SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, HE WELCOMED WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS THE FIRST COMPREHENSIVE ENDEAVOUR TO EXPLORE THE MANY FACETS OF REHABILITATION, TO PINPOINT DEFICIENCIES, AND TO SUGGEST REALISTIC MEANS OF CLOSING THE GAP.
DR. FANG ALSO STRONGLY SUPPORTED THE WORKING GROUP'S RECOMMENDATION FOR A HIGH LEVEL COMMITTEE TO OVERSEE DEVELOPMENT OF REHABILITATION SERVICES IN HONG KONG AND TO CO-ORDINATE THE POLICY ASPECTS OF ACTIVITIES BOTH WITHIN GOVERNMENT AND THE VOLUNTARY SECTOR.
HE SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNOR SHOULD APPOINT ITS CHAIRMAN AND THAT MEMBERS SHOULD CONSIST OF BOTH OFFICIALS AND UNOFFICIALS.
THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID, SHOULD GET ON IMMEDIATELY WITH TWO PRIMARY TASKS, NAMELY: THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CENTRAL REGISTRY TO PROVIDE THE MUCH NEEDED STATISTICS FOR EFFECTIVE PLANNING AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF TWO REGIONAL MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ASSESSMENT CENTRES, ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE HARBOUR, TO BE ATTACHED TO THE REGIONAL HOSPITALS.
HE STRESSED THAT THE LATTER WAS A SOUND PROPOSAL AND WOULD PROVIDE THE NERVE CENTRE FOR DISPENSING REHABILITATION NEEDS.
WHILE SUPPORTING A SUGGESTION IN THE GREEN PAPER THAT THE POLYTECHNIC SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR TRAINING THE MANPOWER NEEDED TO COPE WITH THE PLANS OUTLINED, DR. FANG EMPHASISED THAT THE AIM SHOULD BE TO PRODUCE TWO TIERS OF TRAINED PERSONNEL, ONE AT A LOWER LEVEL AND THE OTHER AT PROFESSIONAL LEVEL.
+EXPERIENCE IN MANY COUNTRIES SUGGESTS THAT MUCH OF THE REPETITIVE WORK INVOLVED IN REHABILITATION SERVICES CAN BE PERFORMED EFFICIENTLY AND SATISFACTORILY BY A GRADE OF SEMI- PROFESSIONAL TECHNICAL STAFF UNDER SUPERVISION.+
HE SAID THAT HONG KONG'S IMMEDIATE AIM SHOULD BE TO PRODUCE TRAINED PERSONNEL GEARED TO MEET LOCAL NEEDS AND NOT NECESSARILY TO STRIVE FOR RECOGNITION BY INTERNATIONAL PROFESSIONAL BODIES.
DR. FANG ALSO SUGGESTED THAT EDUCATION ON THE PRINCIPLES OF REHABILITATION SHOULD START IN PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS, AND ALSO IN TEACHERS' TRAINING COLLEGES, FOR TEACHERS AND CHILDREN ALIKE SHOULD BE SHOWN HOW DISABILITIES COULD BE AVOIDED.
+CONSIDERATION FOR THE PLIGHT OF THE DISABLED SHOULD BE NUTURED IN THE YOUNG AT AN EARLY AGE SO THAT THIS CARE AND SYMPATHY MAY BE REFLECTED IN LATER LIFE, WHETHER AS AN ORDINARY CITIZEN, A REHABILITATION WORKER OR A POTENTIAL EMPLOYER OF THE DISABLED, HE SAID.
+
/+I BELIEVE