WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1980
SENIOR CITIZENS REQUIRE MORE GOVERNMENT HELP
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THERE IS AN URGENT NEED TO BUILD MORE CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS WHO IN THEIR WORKING LIFETIME HAVE CONTRIBUTED SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE PROGRESS AND PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG, DR THE HON HARRY FANG TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
HE POINTED OUT THAT THE INSTITUTIONAL PROGRAMME FOR THE ELDERLY HAD BEEN DELAYED BECAUSE OF A LACK OF SUITABLE SITES.
+AT LEAST 1 000 PATIENTS WHO SHOULD BE CARED FOR IN INFIRMARIES OR CARE AND ATTENTION HOMES ARE STILL OCCUPYING HOSPITAL BEDS WHICH ARE BADLY NEEDED FOR THE VERY ILL. +
HE WAS HOPEFUL THAT THE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS INVOLVED COULD MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO SET ASIDE SUITABLE SITES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF SUCH HOMES AND CENTRES FOR OLD PEOPLE.
→MUCH IS BEING DONE TO ASSIST THE ELDERLY OF LIMITED MEANS,+ DR FANG SAID, +BUT WE MUST NOT FORGET THOSE OF MIDDLE-INCOME BACKGROUND WHO ARE INELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC HOUSING AND WHO DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO EXISTING FACILITIES BECAUSE OF LIMITED SUPPLY.+
MANY OF THESE HAVE NO FAMILIES TO TURN TO, SOME ARE IN RELATIVELY GOOD HEALTH AND OTHERS REQUIRE PERSONAL CARE.
HE QUESTIONED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER SUPPORTING SCHEMES FOR THIS GROUP SIMILAR TO THE CHINA COAST COMMUNITY PROJECT BY PROVIDING EITHER A LOAN OR LAND AT CONCESSIONARY PREMIA.
THESE SENIOR CITIZENS WOULD PAY FOR THEIR OWN KEEP, HE ADDED.
DR FANG OBSERVED THAT THE AGEING POPULATION WAS BECOMING MORE AND MORE OF A PROBLEM IN HONG KONG.
STATISTICS SHOW THAT THOSE OVER THE AGE OF 60 ARE REACHING 10 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL POPULATION AS COMPARED WITH ONLY 4.5 PER CENT IN 1971.
THIS, HE SAID, WAS RECENTLY EMPHASISED BY THE BRITISH MEDICAL TEAM WHICH CAME TO HONG KONG TO ADVISE ON WHETHER CONTINUED FULL RECOGNITION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE MEDICAL TRAINING IN HONG KONG.
+ IN THEIR REPORT THEY HAVE RECOMMENDED THAT MORE TIME BE DEVOTED TO THE TEACHING OF GERIATRICS.
+ IN THE CARE OF THE ELDERLY, IT IS HOPED THAT GOVERNMENT CAN PUT MORE EMPHASIS ON GERIATRIC HEALTH CARE BY INITIATING FOR EXAMPLE SCHEMES SIMILAR TO THE SCHOOL MEDICAL SERVICE.+
'OR PANG