SATURDAY, JULY 2, 1977
SPECIAL ACCESS FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED
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A SPECIAL COUNTER WILL BE SET UP ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF THE NEW GENERAL POST OFFICE IN CONNAUGHT PLACE FOR THE USE OF DISABLED PEOPLE ON WHEELCHAIRS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
THE SPECIAL COUNTER WILL BE INDICATED BY ONE OF THE INTERNATION- ALLY ACCEPTED SYMBOLS SHOWING A WHEELCHAIR, AND A RAMP WILL BE BUILT AT THE ENTRANCE TO PROVIDE EASY ACCESS, HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE POSTMASTER GENERAL HAS AGREED TO PROVIDE THIS FACILITY FOR THE DISABLED FOLLOWING A SURVEY CONDUCTED EARLIER THIS YEAR BY THE ACCESS COMMITTEE FOR THE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY DISABLED.
THE ACCESS COMMITTEE WAS FORMED LAST YEAR BY THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE TO LOOK INTO WAYS OF IMPROVING TRANSPORT AND ACCESS FOR THE DISABLED TO BUILDINGS AND OTHER FACILITIES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.
ITS MEMBERS INCLUDE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE SOCIAL SERVICES AND ENVIRONMENT BRANCHES OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT.
AMONG OTHER PLACES LOOKED AT IN THE SURVEY WERE THE HUNG HOM RAILWAY STATION, THE CITY HALL AND THE OCEAN TERMINAL,
THE SPOKESMAN ADDED: THE K.C.R. IS EXAMINING THE FEASIBILITY OF RAMPING PART OF THE KERB OUTSIDE THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE HUNG HOM STATION, MODIFYING THE TOILETS THERE TO MAKE THEM ACCESSIBLE TO THE WHEELCHAIR DISABLED AND PUTTING UP SIGNS TO INDICATE DIRECTIONS TO THE LIFTS.
+ IT HAS ALREADY PUT UP SIGNS AT ALL STATIONS INVITING DISABLED PASSENGERS, OR THE IR ATTENDANTS, TO CONTACT THE STATIONMASTER FOR ASSISTANCE IN BOARDING, LEAVING AND FINDING A SEAT ON THE TRAIN. +
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE ACCESS COMMITTEE WILL CONTINUE WITH SUCH SURVEYS IN FUTURE AND, AMONG OTHER PLACES,
AMONG OTHER PLACES, INTEND TO LOOK AT FACILITIES AT THE POLYTECHNIC, THE NEW ABERDEEN SWIMMING POOL AND THE OCEAN PARK,
+AS FAR AS SWIMMING POOLS ARE CONCERNED, THE POOL COMPLEX AT ABERDEEN HAD BEEN SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE HANDICAPPED WITH A WHEELCHAIR SIGN AT THE ENTRANCE. SIMILARLY, THE TAI WAN POOL COMPLEX AT HUNG HOM WHICH IS DUE TO OPEN IN AUGUST THIS YEAR HAS ALSO BEEN BUILT WITH THE DISABLED IN MIND.
+OTHER WORK WHICH THE ACCESS COMMITTEE IS PROMOTING IS THE ADOPTION OF THE CODE OF PRACTICE AMONG PRIVATE DEVELOPERS TO INCORPORATE DESIGNS OR FACILITIES TO ASSIST THE DISABLED. IN TAKING THE LEAD. THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS ALREADY ACCEPTED THE APPLICATION OF THE CODE WHICH WILL BE ADOPTED IN ALL FUTURE GOVERNMENT AND SUBSIDISED BUILDINGS.
+THE COMMITTEE IS ALSO ENCOURAGING THE USE WHEREVER NECESSARY OF SIGNS INDICATING FACILITIES AVAILABLE TO THE DISABLED, HE SAID.
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