N
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1981
THE CONSULTANTS' WORK, HE SAID, ALSO INCLUDED FINDING SOLUTIONS TO THE DISPOSAL OF LIQUID WASTES PERCOLATING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE TIP, SAFE DISPERSAL OF METHANE GASES PRODUCED BY DECOMPOSING ORGANIC MATTER AND DIFFERENTIAL SETTLEMENT DUE TO VARYING DEGREES OF COMPACTION THROUGHOUT THE TIP.
THE FIRST STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT AND SITE PREPARATION WORKS WILL START IN APRIL. THESE WILL INCLUDE EARTH WORKS, DRAINAGE GAS CONTROL AND PRELIMINARY PLANTING, AND IT IS HOPED THAT PART OF THE PARK WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC IN 1983/84.
MR TUCKER SAID THE WHOLE PROJECT, ESTIMATED TO COST $100 MILLION, WOULD BE CARRIED OUT IN FOUR STAGES AND BE READY BY LATE 1986.
THE CONSULTANTS INCLUDE EXPERTS IN WASTE DISPOSAL.
SOCIAL WELFARE HELP TO MENTALLY ILL
****
SOCIAL WELFARE SERVICES HAVE AN IMPORTANT PART TO PLAY IN THE REHABILITATION OF THE MENTALLY ILL, THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MR SELWYN ALLEYNE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE IR PRIMARY ROLE IS TO HELP THESE PEOPLE THROUGH PERIODS OF CRISIS OR ADJUSTMENT SO THAT THEY MAY ONCE AGAIN BE ABLE TO LIVE WITH CONFIDENCE AS INDEPENDENT MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, HE SAID.
SPEAKING AT THE 31ST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF ST. JAMES SETTLEMENT, HE SAID HOWEVER THAT THE PROVISION OF DIRECT SERVICES ALONE IS ONLY PART OF THE SOLUTION AND MUST BE COMBINED WITH A GENUINE DESIRE BY THE COMMUNITY TO ACCEPT EX-MENTAL PATIENTS INTO THE IR MIDST AND TO SUPPORT THEM IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE.+
HE DESCRIBED THE SOCIAL CARE OF THE MENTALLY ILL AS AN AREA OF SERVICE WHICH IS OFTEN NEGLECTED, NOT ONLY IN HONG KONG BUT ALL OVER THE WORLD, AND SAID THAT NEARLY FOUR PER CENT OF
THE POPULATION HERE, OR ABOUT 200 000 PEOPLE, MAY BE IN NEED OF PSYCHIATRIC HELP.
RELATIVELY MINOR PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS SHOULD NOT BE IGNORED AS THERE WAS RISK THAT THEY WOULD LEAD TO PROGRESSIVE MENTAL DETERIORATION,
HIGH DENSITY LIVING AND THE PRESSURES OF A BUSY URBAN ENVIRONMENT INEVITABLY RESULTED IN HIGHER INCIDENCES OF SUCH MINOR PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS.
+WE MUST EXPECT, THEREFORE, OUR PROBLEMS IN THIS AREA TO INCREASE AND, CONSEQUENTLY, FOR THE DEMAND FOR PREVENTIVE OR SOCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES TO INCREASE.+
/MR ALLEYNE