WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 1977
WHITE PAPER MAPS OUT MASSIVE PROGRAMME OF REHABILITATION SERVICES
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A MASSIVE PROGRAMME OF REHABILITATION SERVICES FOR THE DISABLED IN THE NEXT NINE YEARS UP TO 1985/86 COSTING AN ESTIMATED $1,760 MILLION IS OUTLINED IN A WHITE PAPER PUBLISHED TODAY.
THE WHITE PAPER ENTITLED +INTEGRATING THE DISABLED INTO THE COMMUNITY: A UNITED EFFORT+ SPELLS OUT THE VARIOUS MEASURES THE GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE TO PROVIDE SUCH COMPREHENSIVE REHABILITATION SERVICES AS ARE NECESSARY TO ENABLE THE DISABLED TO DEVELOP THEIR PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SOCIAL CAPABILITIES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT WHICH THEIR DISABILITIES PERMIT.
THESE INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF SPECIAL SCHOOLS, SPECIAL CLASSES AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING EXPANSION OF MEDICAL TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION SERVICES THE INTRODUCTION OF A CENTRAL REGISTRY FOR THE DISABLED, A CENTRAL HEALTH EDUCATION UNIT, A COMPREHENSIVE DISABILITY OBSERVATION SCHEME AND OTHER SOCIAL REHABILITATION MEASURES.
THE PAPER ALSO RECOMMENDS THE SETTING UP OF A REHABILITATION DEVELOPMENT CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE WITH THE FOLLOWING TERMS OF REFERENCE :
* TO ADVISE ON THE DEVELOPMENT AND PHASED IMPLEMENTATION OF
REHABILITATION SERVICES IN HONG KONG-
* TO ADVISE ON THE PRINCIPLES OF SUBVENTION APPLICABLE TO
SUCH SERVICES-
*
TO CO-ORDINATE REHABILITATION SERVICES IN GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS AND TO ENSURE THAT AVAILABLE RESOURCES ARE PUT TO BEST USE=
* TO ADVISE ON THE RESPECTIVE ROLES OF THE GOVERNMENT,
VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS AND OTHER BODIES PROVIDING REHABILITATION WORKERS.
THE PAPER OUTLINES THE DEVELOPMENT OF DISABILITY PREVENTION AND REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES AS FOLLOWS:
PREVENTION AND EARLY DIAGNOSIS
THE GOVERNMENT WILL IMPROVE THE EXISTING AND INTRODUCE NEW SCREENING SERVICES FOR BOTH CHILDREN AND ADULTS SO THAT DISABLING CONDITIONS ARE DISCOVERED AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE.
THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WILL INTRODUCE IN 1978/79 A COMPREHENSIVE OBSERVATION SCHEME FOR CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO
THE AGE OF FIVE. FOR THOSE OVER THE AGE OF FIVE, SCREENING PROGRAMMES ORGANISED BY THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN SCHOOLS.
/A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY