16
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 1980
+THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE DONE MOST FOR HONG KONG AND YET HAVE ASKED FOR THE LEAST IN RETURN.
+THEY HAVE WORKED AND SAVED FOR THE FUTURE AND NOW, SANDWICHED BETWEEN HIGH PRICES AND HIGH INTEREST RATES, THEIR PROSPECTS OF HOME OWNERSHIP ARE MORE REMOTE THAN EVER.
+ IF OUR POLICIES ON LAND AND HOUSING ARE PENALISING THIS DESERVING AND SIGNIFICANT GROUP, THEN THEY MUST BE RE-EXAMINED AND IF LACK OF IMAGINATION, DILIGENCE AND LAND ARE NOT THE PROBLEM, LET US FIND OUT WHAT IS AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT URGENTLY.- HE SAID.
MR LOBO UNDERLINED THE NEED FOR CARE TO THE ELDERLY +WHO WOULD RATHER STAND ON THEIR OWN FEET OR RELY ON THEIR FAMILIES THAN STAYING IN HOSPITALS+.
ACCORDING TO A SURVEY CONDUCTED LAST YEAR, THERE WERE 5 000 ELDERLY PATIENTS IN GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS, OF WHOM ABOUT 20 PER CENT REQUIRED ONLY MINIMAL NURSING CARE.
HE NOTED THAT THEIR CONFINEMENT TO HOSPITAL MAY WORK AGAINST FULL RECOVERY AND REHABILITATION.
MORE ACCOMMODATION WHERE OLD PEOPLE CAN LIVE WITH DIGNITY WITH APPROPRIATE PROFESSIONAL CARE AND CONTACT WITH THEIR RELATIVES SHOULD BE PROVIDED, HE SAID.
THIS SHOULD BE SUPPLEMENTED, HE ADDED,
HE ADDED, BY THE EXTENSION OF THE VISITING NURSING SYSTEM TO HELP YOUNG PEOPLE AT WORK TO RETAIN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR PARENTS.
MR LOBO THEN TURNED HIS ATTENTION TO THE EDUCATIONAL LEVEL OF THE WORKFORCE, THE IMPORTANCE OF WHICH WAS EMPHASISED BY THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION.
STATISTICS SHOW THAT WELL OVER HALF A MILLION PEOPLE WORKING IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES IN 1978 HAD NO SECONDARY EDUCATION AT ALL.
+THEIR BEST CHANCE TO REGAIN LOST GROUND MUST BE THROUGH PART-TIME STUDY IN AN ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAMME WHEN THE PROPOSALS OF THE 1978 WHITE PAPER ON SENIOR SECONDARY AND TERTIARY EDUCATION ARE IMPLEMENTED.
I BELIEVE WE SHOULD KNOW WHAT PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE SINCE THE PUBLICATION OF THE WHITE PAPER, AND THE RESULTS OF CONSULTATIONS WITH VOLUNTARY AGENCIES WORKING IN THIS FIELD.
+SPECIFICALLY, I MUST POINT OUT THAT, IF THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADULT EDUCATION IS TO INVOLVE VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, CURRENT POLICIES CONCERNING THE ALLOCATION OF PREMISES IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES SHOULD BE REVIEWED,+
MR LOBO ALSO VOICED HIS CONCERN OVER THE EVER INCREASING SQUATTER POPULATION, RESULTING FROM THE INFLUX OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
HE SAID HE UNDERSTOOD THERE ARE NO MORE SITES AVAILABLE FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING AND THE LONG LIST OF APPLICANTS FOR THE EXISTING SITES IS CAUSING CONCERN TO MANY.