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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1979
DSW STRESSES NEED OF LOVE AND CARE FOR OLD PEOPLE
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THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR. THOMAS LEE, TODAY (FRIDAY) EMPHASISED THE IMPORTANCE OF FILIAL LOVE AND CARE FÖR THE ELDERLY WHICH IS SOMETIMES MORE ESSENTIAL THAN MATERIAL SUPPORT.
SPEAKING AT THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY AND GRADUATION CEREMONY OF HO LAP COLLEGE RUN BY SIK SIK YUEN, A VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION, MR. LEE SAID OLD PEOPLE WANT TO BE UNDERSTOOD AND RESPECTED OUT
OF SPIRITUAL NEEDS.
HE SAID GENERATION GAP MAINLY ARISES OUT OF IDEOLOGICAL DISCORD BETWEEN THE YOUNG AND THE OLD.
THEY OFTEN COME INTO CONFLICTS WHEN BOTH LACK UNDERSTANDING OF EACH OTHER AND TAKE THEIR OWN DOGMATIC VIEWS, HE SAID.
MR. LEE CALLED FOR MUTUAL RESPECT AND ACCEPTANCE AND SAID THE YOUNG AND OLD SHOULD BENEFIT FROM EACH OTHER'S WAY OF THINKING AND EXPERIENCE.
OVER THE YEARS, HE SAID, THE GOVERNMENT HAS DEVELOPED SERVICES FOR THE ELDERLY, WHICH INCLUDE THE LOWERING OF QUALIFYING AGE AND INCREASED PAYMENT RATES FOR OLD AGE ALLOWANCE, THE EXPANSION OF MEDICAL AND INSTITUTIONAL CARE AND SOCIAL CENTRES FOR OLD PEOPLE, AND THE PROVISION OF PUBLIC HOUSING UNITS FOR UNRELATED ELDERLY INDIVIDUALS.
THE RECENT OLD PEOPLE'S FESTIVAL JOINTLY ORGA INSED BY THE VOLUNTARY WELFARE SECTOR AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS HAS ALSO AROUSED WIDE PUBLIC CONCERN ON THE NEED OF CARE AND RESPECT FOR OLD PEOPLE, HE SAID.
MR. LEE PRAISED SIK SIK YUEN FOR ITS ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE VARIOUS FIELDS OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
HE SAID A GOOD EXAMPLE IS THE COMPLETION OF ITS CARE AND ATTENTION HOME FOR THE ELDERLY IN SAI KUNG, NEW TERRITORIES, WHICH, ALTHOUGH NOT OFFICIALLY OPENED. ALREADY CAME INTO OPERATION EARLIER THIS YEAR CARING FOR 100 OLD PEOPLE.
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